Published: August 17, 2012
Furious Burnham pier owner vows to fight council's enforcement action

The owner of Burnham-On-Sea's pier is considering quitting her position as a town councillor as she prepares for a legal battle against Sedgemoor District Council over a controversial sweet shop on the forecourt of the building.

Sedgemoor District Council has this week issued Louise Parkin, right, with a formal Enforcement Notice, requesting that work to remove the white conservatory begins on August 22nd.

Burnham-On-Sea.com first reported earlier this year that the council had requested that the white building, which is used as a sweet shop and candy floss stall, be demolished because it was installed "without planning permission" and is "out of keeping".

However, Louise is adamant that she does not require planning permission because the kiosk is a 'Permitted Development' under UK planning laws relating to amusement parks and she says that the building is not of out keeping with nearby properties. She has vowed not to give in and to take her case to court.

Claire Faun, Sedgemoor's Corporate Relations Manager, told Burnham-On-Sea.com on Friday: "Sedgemoor District Council will be issuing legal proceedings for the failure to comply with an enforcement notice to remove a conservatory from Burnham pier."

"There was an opportunity to appeal the enforcement notice but this was not exercised, so the freeholder is now bound by its provisions. Sedgemoor District Council has a duty to apply the planning regulations equitably within the law."

Almost 1,000 people have signed a petition supporting the Pavilion's fight against the council and Louise told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "Lots of people have signed the petition to give us their support. The vast majority can see we are just trying to run a business and want to keep the Pavilion running."

"This has been our worst season for 43 years and the kiosk has been a life-saver, providing essential shelter to customers during a very wet few months."

"Sedgemoor is showing a total disregard for Burnham's tourism industry to propose with just a few days' notice that we shut the pier to do this work just before a Bank Holiday at the height of the summer season - it's utterly ridiculous."

And she added: "I am also considering my position as a town councillor because Sedgemoor's legal action may make my role untenable."