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Published:
October
24, 2012
Burnham-On-Sea
given £10k boost to revitalise shopping areas
Proposals
to revitalise Burnham-On-Sea's high streets and shopping areas
have been given a boost this week with a £10,000 cash injection.
The
Department for Government and Local Affairs announced on Tuesday
that Burnham's Town Team has been successful in its bid to become
an official 'Town Team Partner'.
The
new status gives the group a £10,000 grant to develop a
number of town centre plans and a 'support package' which provides
help from retail experts and advice from other town teams across
the UK.
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THE MONEY WILL BE SPENT |
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The
support package will be targeted immediately towards the
following plans:
•
Independent retail initiatives;
• Mapping of current occupancy type and strategy to
address concerns with landlords/estate agents;
• Work with Chamber of Trade on late opening initiatives
and encouraging on-street trading;
• Purchase of street accessories (barriers, cones etc
which have to be hired from other councils);
• Planning for 'Sandy Sunday' events in 2013;
• Marketing strategy for a programme of events;
• Removal of by-laws to prevent street busking;
• The launch of a 'High Street on Tour' next Spring;
• Work with BIARS to develop more live events;
• Establishment of a Town Team constitution
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Burnham
Town Team's Beverley Milner Simonds told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "The
faith shown by the Government in the Town Team concept and teams
like ours is heartening."
"We
have worked really hard to formulate realistic plans and are now
energised that some of the plans suggested by residents earlier
in the year will now be able to get off the ground."
"The plans highlight again the need for a single point of
responsibility and accountability for delivery in the town - a
town centre manager tasked with the project and stakeholder management,
design and successful delivery of a range of business, resident
and visitor-focused capital and revenue projects. It is going
to be hard relying on so much on the good will of volunteers to
get things done - but we will be pressing on with these ideas."
Burnham's
MP, Tessa Munt, welcomed the news, telling Burnham-On-Sea.com:
"It's great news that Burnham has been selected as a Town
Team Partner. This gives the local team a well deserved boost
in their efforts to make the important changes in the town; many
of which have been proposed by Burnham people themselves. It is
a great example of localism in action."
A
Burnham Chamber of Trade spokesman added: "This is superb
news. The Chamber is looking forward to working closely with the
Town Team to further develop the proposals and bring benefits
to businesses and shoppers in Burnham town centre."
Burnham's
Town Team submitted two bids to become a Mary Portas Pilot Town
in May and July
in an effort to secure a share of £1million of funding.
While both bids were unsuccessful, the group has continued to
work on its proposals to boost the town centre, working with Burnham
Chamber of Trade and the Town Council.
Pictured:
Burnham Town Team's Beverley Milner Simonds with Kay Rossiter
and Derek Monaghan celebrating the news on Tuesday
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