Burnham-On-Sea’s Nationwide Building Society branch has unveiled plans to install new life‑saving emergency equipment outside of its branch.
Nationwide’s branch in Burnham High Street is the town’s last remaining banking facility after Lloyds shut in 2024. Nationwide says the future of the branch is safe until at least 2030, as we reported here.
And now, the company says it is demonstrating its commitment to the Burnham by submitting plans to install two secure external cabinets containing a life-saving defibrillator and bleed‑control kit.
They would be fixed to the rear wall facing Victoria Street and be mounted in prominent, easy‑to‑reach positions so they can be accessed quickly in an emergency, while keeping visual impact in the conservation area to a minimum.
A spokesman for Nationwide says the building society is committed to supporting the wellbeing of the communities it serves, with branches at the heart of high streets across the UK.
“As part of that commitment, we are rolling out external defibrillators and bleed‑control kits at selected branches to ensure people have rapid, 24/7 access to emergency equipment whenever it is needed. Each unit will be housed in a dedicated cabinet supplied by St John Ambulance, complete with Nationwide branding.”
The spokesman adds that the cabinets can be removed if they ever become redundant, and that the potential to save lives outweighs any limited impact on the appearance of the conservation area.
Somerset Council is welcoming comments on the plans, submitted under reference 11/26/00070, until October 1st, 2026.
