Published: June 15, 2012
Burnham-On-Sea theatre receives £20,000 grant funding boost

Burnham-On-Sea's Princess Theatre has been awarded a funding boost of almost £20,000 which will enable a revamp of its interior to go ahead.

Delighted members of the town council's Princess Management Committee have been celebrating the news that £19,970 has been pledged for the theatre's modernisation by Local Action for Rural Communities, which is part of the Rural Development Programme for England.

Burnham councillor Peter Burridge-Clayton, who chairs the committee, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "It is excellent news that we have been pledged £19,970."

"This means we will be able to proceed with our original plan in completely replacing the kitchen and bringing it up to catering standard and also replacing the bar and refurbishing it with new furniture and redecoration."

"We will still have some funds left from the transitional funding to prime another grant application from another source to enable us to provide good quality sound and lighting systems and allow the refurbishment of the Pizey Room to accomodate weddings and conferences."

He added: "We are intending to apply for further grants late summer. All these improvements will generate additional income for the theatre and provide a quality venue for our residents to use or visit. The bar and kitchen work will be going out to tender very shortly."

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank Alex Turco, our voluntary financial advisor, and our manager, Andy Pulleyn, for putting the bid together and all the members of the management committee for their continued work and support in these matters."

Local Action for Rural Communities (LARC) is part of the Rural Development Programme for England, a European funded programme running from 2009 to 2013.

The transferal of ownership of The Princess from Sedgemoor District Council to Burnham and Highbridge Town Council went ahead in April 2011.