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August
25, 2005
Specsavers to open new store on Burnham-On-Sea
High Street
One
of the UK's largest High Street brands is to move into Burnham-On-Sea
next month when it opens a new shop in the town.
 Specsavers,
the opticians, has bought a vacant shop next to the Somerset &
Dorset pub (pictured right) at the southern end of Burnham High
Street.
The
building was previously home to Seaside Specials selling seasonal
souveniers but more recently was used as a charity shop selling
books and bric-a-brac.
A
spokesman for Specsavers told Burnham-On-Sea.com that the new
store would open "during the next few weeks", following
the completion of a redecoration of the store.
While
the store's arrival in Burnham is being welcomed by some as a
positive sign that well-known 'Blue Chip' companies are starting
to move into the town, other locals say it is bound to hurt the
trade of existing opticians in Burnham who have been based here
for years.
 Former
Mayor and current town councillor Louise Parkin said: "There
are problems with multi-national companies, but from talking to
traders in the High Street, they are about 50-50 for and against.
Personally, I'd rather Specsavers than another charity shop."
And
Councillor Peter Clayton, who chairs Burnham's planning committee,
added: "I think the arrival of Specsavers should be welcomed.
It is a well respected company and covers a good range of products."
"After
trading in the High Street for over 20 years I can say from experience
this new arrival should not harm existing shops but complement
them. Existing opticians in the town have their own style of trading
and brands and they should keep most of their loyal customers."
"This
will however make them look at their pricing, which has got to
be good for the consumer. I think even they will appreciate competition
is good and it's another shop to keep residents shopping locally."
Specsavers
has more than 650 stores nationwide and several in Somerset, including
one at Bridgwater and another at Weston-super-Mare.
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