Patriotic bunting will not be hung from lamp posts along Burnham-On-Sea High Street during next month’s Jubilee due to health and safety concerns for pedestrians below, it has emerged this week.
The Chamber of Trade had hoped to install several hundred metres of bunting between lighting columns and shops in the town centre to add a splash of colour during the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations.
However, the group has been told that a number of risk assessments would have to be carried out and that the lamp posts would have to be stress-tested before the bunting could be hung up.
Jonathan Walter from Burnham Chamber of Trade told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “Personally, I am disappointed that the County Council feels there is a need to stress test lamp posts for something as lightweight as bunting just because there are concerns the bunting might blow down onto pedestrians. What damage can a bit of string and plastic do?”
He added that the Chamber of Trade had not intended to hang the bunting across the High Street due to height restrictions, however he explained: “We simply wanted to hang the bunting between shops and lamp posts.”
The Chamber is now planning to hang 750 metres of bunting along the fronts of buildings along parts of the High Street, College Street and Victoria Street instead.
Town Councillor Phil Harvey added: “This is crazy. Stress testing the lamp posts would obviously cost considerably more than the bunting itself. It’s important that the town centre should look as welcoming as possible during the Jubilee.”
Cllr Peter Burridge-Clayton told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “We need to go back to the County Council and discuss this further. I am sure a solution can be found.”
The lighting columns in Burnham High Street are due to be replaced with modern new lamp posts later this year. As recently reported here, Burnham will not be entering the Britain In Bloom competition this year due to restrictions on flower baskets being hung from the lamp posts.
RELATED LINKS:
Complete guide to Jubilee celebrations in Burnham and Highbridge
