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Published:
March
10,
2010
Work
begins on demolishing historic Burnham-On-Sea boating pool
 Work
to demolish Burnham-On-Sea's historic beach boating pool began
on Wednesday morning (March 10th).
Building
contractors started the task of breaking up the stone structure
and taking away the huge quantities of rubble.
Burnham-On-Sea.com
was first to reveal
last summer that the landmark was in jeopardy after cash-strapped
Sedgemoor District Council said it was conducting a study into
the extent of the repairs needed to retain it.
District
councillors voted in December to remove the pool due to a combination
of costly repairs and safety concerns - and the council admitted
in January that the bill to tax payers of demolishing it is
£9,800.
The
work was initially held up by the discovery of asbestos within
the structure, but that has now been safely resolved.
 The
pool, built in the 1920s, was given to Burnham by members of the
Braithwaite family, who constructed it in thanks for the safe
return of their five sons from the Great War.
District
council spokeswoman Claire Faun told Burnham-On-Sea.com that the
Braithwaites have been contacted and have been invited to suggest
some wording for a new commemorative plaque to be sited on the
sea wall near the existing one.
The
absence of the pool will forever change the appearance of Burnham's
beach north of the pier. A film is being made about the pool's
history, as reported here.
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