Car park fly-tipper fined £200 – Burnham-On

September
2014 Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge News Archive

Car
park fly-tipper fined £200
FLY-tipping
his partner’s rubbish has cost a Burnham-On-Sea man more than
£200 for his first offence. Five black sacks of refuse,
discovered next to the ‘bring banks’ in Burnham’s Lynton Road
led council investigators to a woman living nearby and then to
her partner. More…

Ofsted
celebrations at nursery
YOUNGSTERS
and staff at Highbridge Children’s Centre nursery are celebrating
this week after being awarded a positive rating in their latest
Ofsted inspection. The nursery, run by Somerset County Council,
has been awarded ‘good’ across the board by Ofsted in its latest
inspection. More…

Food
Festival chefs announced
THE
countdown is underway to Burnham-On-Sea’s Autumn Food Drink
Festival on Saturday October 25th and a great line-up of chefs
has been announced this week. A busy programme of cooking demonstrations
will be held at the event with tips and advice on offer. More…

Artists
put work on display
TWO
Burnham-On-Sea artists are among the scores of painters and sculpters
with work on display across the area this week during Somerset
Art Weeks. Hundreds of paintings, ceramics, drawings, textiles
and sculptures are on show in homes and studios. More…

Late
boost for tourism trade
BUSINESSES
in Burnham-On-Sea are enjoying one of their busiest ever Septembers
thanks to the continuing summer weather. Visitors were out in
force over the weekend, visiting shops and cafes in the town,
with some accommodation providers also reporting a late boost
in bookings. More…

Pop
star kidnapped in village!
POP
star Lady Gaga made a brief appearance in Brent Knoll at the weekend
before being kidnapped! The pop star was among scores of famous
faces used to decorate over 50 straw characters during the village’s
popular annual scarecrow festival. More…

Cider
festival hailed a success
HUNDREDS
of people attended a two-day Cider Festival in Burnham-On-Sea
over the weekend. The popular event took place on Saturday and
Sunday at The Ritz Social Club in Victoria Street. Visitors were
able to try a great range of mainly local ciders. More…

Mayor
leads coffee fundraiser
HUNDREDS
of people across the Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge area raised
their coffee mugs for charity on Friday to join the ‘World’s Biggest
Coffee Morning’. Fundraisers held scores of events locally as
part of the nationwide campaign for Macmillan. More…

Skittlers
raise Charley funds
A
GROUP of skittlers has raised funds in memory of a Burnham-On-Sea
teenager who died earlier this month. The Lighthouse Inn hosted
a special well-attended skittles evening on Saturday night (27th
September) to raise money for ‘In Charley’s Memory’, a charity.
More…

Liam
wins BMX cycling title
BURNHAM-On-Sea
BMX rider Liam Phillips has become the first British man to win
the UCI BMX Supercross series world title. Liam, who became world
champion last year, led the series going into the fifth and final
round in California, but crashed in the quarter-finals. More…

Church
starts £500k appeal
A
VILLAGE church near Burnham-On-Sea has launched a £500,000
fundraising campaign to raise enough money to make urgent repairs
to its roof. West Huntspill Church has begun a five-year project
to undertake the work as part of a major refurbishment. More…

TV’s
Simon Cowell at festival!
TV
star Simon Cowell has made a special appearance in Brent Knoll
this weekend during the village’s annual scarecrow festival. The
personality is among many VIPs turned into straw characters during
the popular third annual event showcasing 40 scarecrows across
the village. More…

Tory
supports Iraq air strikes
BURNHAM-On-Sea’s
Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate says he would
vote in favour of air strikes against Islamist extremists in Iraq.
James Heappey, pictured, has first-hand experience of conflict,
having served as an officer in the army in Iraq. More…

Calm
weather hits kiting event
HOPES
of holding a successful kiting day on Burnham-On-Sea beach were
blown away on Saturday (September 27th) due to calm weather conditions.
The event went ahead as planned on the beach, but a lack of wind
meant only a small number of kites were flown. More…

Pet
shop raises charity cash
A
BURNHAM-On-Sea shop has raised hundreds of pounds for two local
good causes. The team at The Pet Shop in Burnham High Street held
a raffle this month which has raised money for the good causes
Somerset Breakthrough Breast Cancer and Knitted Knockers. More…

MP
votes for Iraq air strikes
BURNHAM-On-Sea’s
MP last night voted in support of military action in Iraq against
Islamic State extremists. After a seven-hour debate in the House
of Comomons, MPs voted for military action by 524 votes to 43
– and Tessa Munt was among the majority in favour of air strikes.
More…

Work
starts on learning centre
BUILDING
work has begun this month on constructing a major new Learning
Centre at Secret World Wildlife Rescue Centre in East Huntspill.
The work to transform an old barn into a new building with modern
new facilities has got underway at the centre. More…

£3,000
raised for cancer centre
A
BURNHAM-On-Sea Cancer sufferer has this week thanked his family
for raising thousands of pounds towards a support centre. Peter
Lsucombe is receiving treatment for Germ Cell Cancer. His mum
Elaine and Aunt, Celia Martin, have carried out fundraising. More…

Town
Legion ‘could be saved’

BURNHAM-On-Sea’s branch of the Royal British Legion
could be saved from closure if enough volunteers come forward
to save it, the leader of the disbanded group has said this week.
Burnham-On-Sea.com first reported on Tuesday that members of the
long-running organisation had voted to disband. More…

Scarecrow
festival fun to start
RESIDENTS
of all ages in Brent Knoll are holding their annual scarecrow
festival this weekend. The popular third annual event will see
more than 60 scarecrows with the theme of ‘Music and Songs’ installed
alongside roads through the village over the two days. More…

MP:
Reduce Whitehall’s powers
BURNHAM-On-Sea’s
MP has this week called for more powers to be handed over from
Whitehall in the wake of the Scottish independence vote. In an
interview with the Daily Mirror newspaper, Tessa Munt said she
supports more decison-making at a local level. More…

Megan
is selected for region
A
KEEN young footballer from Burnham-On-Sea has been selected for
the South West Centre of Excellence, which is just one step away
from a full England placing. We first featured Megan Robinson
here back in 2009 when she gained a place for Somerset. More…

Austria
to block Hinkley plans?
PLANS
to build a new nuclear plant at Hinkley Point near Burnham-On-Sea
may be blocked by Austria. The Austrian government say they are
united against the plans and will launch a legal challenge if
the £16billion Hinkley Point project is approved. More…

Town
farmers market today
OVER
a dozen traders will be selling a wide range of locally-grown
products when Burnham-On-Sea’s monthly farmers market returns
to the town on Friday (September 26th) with a harvest theme. The
market will be held in the High Street from 9am-1pm with many
stalls. More…

Burnham
kiting day tomorrow
ALL
eyes will be trained on the skies above Burnham-On-Sea beach later
this weekend when the town hosts a special kiting day. The free
event will be held on the sands next to The Pavilion on Saturday
afternoon (September 27th) from 2.30pm when all are welcome. More…

Dog
fouling messages unveiled
Exclusive:
MESSAGES like this are being painted onto pavements across
Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge as part of a project to stamp out
dog fouling. Members of Burnham and Highbridge Youth Town Council
have been working hard in recent months on their campaign. More…

Couple
in terrace planning row
Exclusive:
A BURNHAM couple have been ordered to
remove a sun terrace outside their home which Sedgemoor District
Council says breaks planning rules. Brian and Ann Nicholls initially
built the wooden decking area in 2012 on a flat roof above their
kitchen at the rear of their home in Oxford Street. More…

Cider
Festival this weekend
BURNHAM-On-Sea
is to host a Cider Festival this weekend with two days of live
music and great local brews on offer. The festival takes place
on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th September at The Ritz in Victoria
Street with local drinks and music. More…

Family
of moorhens rescued
A
FAMILY of tiny moorhen chicks whose nest was damaged during ongoing
dredging on the Somerset Levels have been rescued by wildlife
carers near Burnham-On-Sea. The nest of moorhen chicks was disturbed
while dredging was taking place in a rhyne in Mark. More…

Farmers
market tomorrow
OVER
a dozen traders will be selling a wide range of locally-grown
products when Burnham-On-Sea’s monthly farmers market returns
to the town on Friday (September 26th) with a harvest theme. The
market will be held in the High Street from 9am-1pm with many
stalls. More…

One
month until Food Festival
THE
countdown to the next Burnham-On-Sea Food and Drink festival is
well underway with its return now just a month away. The popular
festival will see Victoria Street and the surrounding area filled
with over 85 local food and drink traders and other entertainers.
More…

Police
step up crime crackdown
POLICE
in Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge have this week stepped up their
efforts to tackle crime in the two towns with the launch of a
new high-tech system. A group of residents has become the first
in the whole region to be given new DNA property marking packs
to safeguard their valuables. More…

Play
area safety fears raised
Exclusive:
A BURNHAM mother has called for urgent
safety improvements to a play area in the town after her daughter
was left hanging from her neck when she got caught on a rope.
Several parents have raised concerns about the state of the Rosewood
Play Area. More…

Town
manager to be appointed
A
NEW Burnham-On-Sea Town Centre Manager looks set to be appointed
next week. The role is being formed to co-ordinate events and
promote the town centre, working alongside Burnham’s Chamber of
Trade, other groups, and local councils. More…

World’s
biggest coffee morning
BURNHAM-On-Sea’s
Pier is one of several locations across the area holding fundraising
coffee mornings as part of the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning
this week. Louise Parkin, manager of The Pavilion, will be selling
coffee and cakes for charity alongside other retailers in the
area. More…

Swan
rescued in High Street
THE
unusual sight of a confused swan in Burnham-On-Sea’s High Street
led to a rescue by local wildlife carers on Tuesday (September
23rd). Carers from Secret World, based in East Huntspill, were
called to the town centre shortly after 8am after several sightings.
More…

Singer
teams up with dancers
HIGHBRIDGE
singer Gypsy Watkins is teaming up with a group of dancers from
Burnham-On-Sea for a special performance this Friday (September
26th). The DanceFit Academy Dancers will be performing alongside
the talented singer for a show in The Princess Theatre. More…

Legion
disbands after 75 years

BURNHAM-On-Sea’s branch of the Royal British Legion
is set to close at the end of this month after 75 years of running,
it has been announced this week. Members of the organisation have
voted at their AGM to disband the branch because it has not been
possible to form a new committee. More…

Crews
tackle blaze at farm
FIRE
crews from Burnham-On-Sea tackled a farmyard blaze in a silage
pit on Monday (September 22nd). Two fire appliances from Burnham
and a water carrier from Bridgwater were sent to Edingworth Road,
Edingworth in East Brent at 1.40pm to tackle the blaze. More…

Beach
clean-ups completed
A
BEACH clean-up operation was held in Brean and Berrow at the weekend
during a nationwide initiative to rid the UK’s beaches of litter.
The autumn beach clean was held at Berrow, pictured, on Saturday
and Brean on Sunday with volunteers scouring the sand. More…

Thornback
Ray wins contest
THIS
big Thornback Ray was the catch of the day when members of Burnham-On-Sea’s
Boat Onwers Sea Angling Association held their latest competition
over the weekend. Steve Saxby, pictured, reeled in the 11lb 8.5oz
specimen from his boat. More…

‘Dragged
Up’ is a theatre hit
BURNHAM-On-Sea’s
Princess Theatre Company performed an original comedy drama in
front of an impressed audience on Friday (September 19th). ‘Dragged
Up’ by Kim Cook was an original work about growing up in the North
in a not-so-conventional family.
More…

Police
seek ‘Good Samaritans’

POLICE have today issued an appeal for two Good
Samaritans who came to the help of a distressed woman in Burnham-On-Sea
during the early hours of Saturday (20th September) to come forward
as they may be important witnesses. Officers were called at about
4am on Saturday. More…

Lighthouse
trail raises £8,000
BURNHAM-On-Sea’s
summer lighthouse trail raised a final total of more than £8,000
for charity, it was revealed last night (Sunday). The final figure
was announced by organisers from Highbridge and Burnham Artists
(HABA) during a special event to thank all the supporters and
bidders. More…

New
world record set at Brean
Exclusive:
A NEW world record was set in Brean
on Saturday (September 20th) when this group of sand artists created
an impressive mile-long design. Julian Richardson and three friends
teamed up to produce the mammoth design on the beach south of
Brean Down. More…

Arts
projects go on display
A
UNIQUE event was held in Burnham-On-Sea on Saturday evening (September
20th) to celebrate a summer-long arts project. The ‘Keep the Change
Celebration’ was organised by local arts charity Take Art at The
Princess Theatre, attended by dozens of local residents. More…

Arsenal
player’s surprise visit
BERROW
Junior Football Club players welcomed a surprise VIP spectator
over the weekend. England and Arsenal defender Casey Stoney visited
the club’s ground at the Red Road playing fields. Casey visited
ahead of a Arsenal Women’s Super League fixture. More…

Brewing
contest set to return
HOME
brewing has seen a revival in recent years with sales of home
brewing kits for cider, beer and wine up by 75% at some outlets
year-on-year. And with this in mind, the Burnham Food Drink
Festival is bringing back its popular brewing competition to its
October event. More…

Jazz
ball raises £3k for charity
MORE
than £3,000 was raised for charity at a jazz ball run by
Huntspill-based BD Jazz Club on Saturday night (September 20th).
The fourth annual Jazz Band Ball was held at The Webbington Hotel
and Country Club and included a two-course dinner and coffee.
More…

£2.1m
play park opens
A
NEW £2.1m children’s indoor play centre was officially opened
in Brean on Saturday (September 20th). The new indoor soft play
centre and splash area – called Brean Play – was partially open
for the summer holidays but the formal ribbon-cutting ceremony
was held on Saturday at Brean Leisure Park. More…

Seafront
shelter is bombed!
YARN
bombers struck Burnham-On-Sea’s seafront on Saturday (September
20th). A shelter on The Esplanade has been decorated with dozens
of brightly coloured knitted items. The display includes knitted
seagulls, flags, fishing nets and even people. More…

Success
for town dance school
STUDENTS
from a Highbridge dance school are celebrating this weekend after
scooping a top award at yesterday’s Axbridge Carnival. The musicals
was the theme of Saturday’s Axbridge Carnival and students from
Highbridge’s Curtain Call wowed the judges. More…

Sign
up now for half marathon
RUNNERS
of all abilities are being encouraged to enter this year’s Burnham-On-Sea’s
Half Marathon, which takes place on Sunday October 5th. The starting
gun will be fired at 11am at Burnham’s BASC Ground to signal the
start of the 13-mile run whose course in round the area. More…

Arrest
in rape investigation
A
BURNHAM-On-Sea man has been arrested on suspicion of raping a
teenage girl in a field on the night of an event in Pilton. Police
have confirmed this week that a 24-year-old Burnham man was arrested
on September 5th at the Pilton Party and is also alleged to have
been in possession of Class A drugs. More…

Town
MP launches arts festival
DOZENS
of yellow signs have popped up on street corners around Burnham-On-Sea
and the surrounding area to promote local artists showcasing their
work during the 2014 Somerset Art Weeks festival. Hundreds of
paintings and work are on show across the area. More…

Sailor
rescued on Steep Holm
LIFEBOAT
crews have this week rescued a yachtsman whose boat sank in the
middle of the Bristol Channel. The man managed to get ashore on
uninhabited Steep Holm Island, then sent his girlfriend a text
message asking her to get help from the Coastguard. More…

Beach
clean-up gets underway
A
BEACH clean-up operation is being held in Brean and Berrow this
weekend as part of a nationwide initiative to rid the UK’s beaches
of litter. The autumn beach clean is being held at Berrow today
(Saturday) and Brean on Sunday with volunteers cleaning. More…

Devolved
powers on the way?
SOMERSET
County Council’s leader has joined calls for devolved powers for
regions of England following this week’s independence referendum
in Scotland. Cllr John Osman says it is important that areas like
Somerset are given greater say over their own affairs in the future.
More…

Call
for markets to move
Exclusive:
BURNHAM-On-Sea’s farmers markets should be moved out of the
town’s High Street in order to reduce disruption on shops and
motorists, a town councillor has called this week. Proposals have
been put forward by Cllr Neville Jones for the monthly markets
to be moved into Adam Street instead. More…

Lorry
blaze on M5 motorway
BURNHAM-On-Sea
fire crews were called to tackle a lorry blaze on the M5 motorway
on Thursday afternoon (September 18th). Crews from Burnham and
Bridgwater were called to the southbound carriageway between junctions
22 and 23 at just before 3.45pm. More…

Arts
event in town on Saturday
A
SPECIAL event is to be held in Burnham-On-Sea on Saturday (September
20th) to celebrate a summer-long arts project. The ‘Keep the Change
Celebration’ will be held by arts charity Take Art at The Princess
Theatre at 7pm. The event will see a night of music. More…

Tennis
club holds tournament
AN
annual ladies doubles tennis tournament played in memory of Jo
Gooden, a past member of Burnham-On-Sea’s Avenue Tennis Club,
was played at the weekend. Jo Gooden (nee Champion) was a very
popular member and prominent County player for many years. More…

Harvest
supper raises £500
OVER
80 Burnham-On-Sea Moose Lodge members and guests have raised hundreds
of pounds for charity by holding a fundraising harvest supper.
The event, held in Berrow Village Hall, raised £500 for
local charities with a successful evening of fresh food and music.
More…

Tributes
for Burnham woman
TRIBUTES
have been paid to a popular 23-year-old Burnham-On-Sea cystic
fibrosis sufferer who has died. Georgia Queen worked as a carer
at Burnham Nursing Home until she became too ill to continue.
She was taken ill on August 30th and was airlifted to Taunton.
More…

Thieves
steal Royal plaques
MEAN
thieves have stolen two metal plaques at Highbridge’s Apex Park
that were installed two years ago to mark the Queen’s Diamond
Jubilee. Burnham Rotary Club oversaw the construction of the commemorative
wall in 2012 next to the main car park. More…

Carnival
concerns raised
CARNIVAL
clubs which create excessive late night noise in residential areas
of Burnham-On-Sea face could have points docked by organisers
during the run-up to this year’s event as part of proposals to
appease nearby residents. More than 40 residents attended a public
meeting last night. More…

Cash
boost for town rifle club
BURNHAM-On-Sea
Rifle Club is to receive a much-needed funding boost to overhaul
its aging headquarters, it has been announced this week. The club,
based in Cassis Close next to the Burnham Area Youth Centre, has
this week been awarded £2,500 of funding. More…

Deer
injured after accident
CARERS
at a wildlife rescue centre near Burnham-On-Sea are looking after
a deer this week after it was injured in an accident. The team
at Secret World in East Huntspill are caring for a Roe Deer that
was brought in with a missing antler. It was found in Sandford.
More…

Hotel
consultation underway
THE
long-awaited redevelopment of the eyesore Highbridge Hotel has
moved another step closer with the formal submisison of the plans.
Mead Realisations has submitted plans to Sedgemoor District Council
for the erection of two retail units at ground floor. More…

Dance
centre’s free taster day
A
BURNHAM-On-Sea dance studio is holding a free taster day this
Sunday (September 21st) with a wide range of activities for all
ages. The refurbished Dance Studio on The Westmans Trading Estate
in Love Lane is holding a day of free children’s and adult classes.
More…

Town
fireworks costs reach £9k
Exclusive:
THE organisers of Burnham-On-Sea’s annual seafront fireworks
display have this week appealed for local businesses to help fund
the event’s £9,000 costs. This year’s display is scheduled
to begin at 6.30pm on Sunday 2nd November with a sparkling line-up
of fireworks from the town’s jetty. More…

Power
cut hits 3,000 homes
3,000
homes in Burnham-On-Sea were without electricity on Tuesday evening
(September 16th) after a power cut. Western Power Distribution
told Burnham-On-Sea.com that 3,000 homes were briefly without
supplies following the cut which began at 5.38pm. More…

Groups
bid for grant funding
FOUR
good causes in Burnham-On-Sea have been shortlisted for a community
fund which could see them receive thousands of pounds in grant.
They are Burnham-On-Sea Swimming Club, St Andrew’s Parish
Church, the Burnham Food Drink Festival, and Heads Up. More…

Burnham
to host kiting day
ALL
eyes will be trained on the skies above Burnham-On-Sea beach later
this month when the town hosts a special kiting day. The free
event will be held on the sands next to The Pavilion on Saturday
September 27th from 2.30pm when all willm be welcome to join in.
More…

Boxer
picked for western team
AN
up-and-coming Highbridge boxer has been selected to fight for
the Western Counties team. Shaunessy Abraham, right, trains at
Highbridge’s King Alfred Amateur Boxing Club and is delighted
to have been picked to represent the region which the club says
is a great honour. More…

Local
kung fu group celebrates

MEMBERS of a Berrow Kung Fu group are celebrating success at the
national championships. The youngsters – all of whom are members
of Berrow’s Kung Fu Club – attended the Fei Lung Kwan National
Junior Championships in Horton, Berkshire. They competed against
other participants from across the UK. More…

Carnival
changes to be debated

A PUBLIC meeting is to be held in Burnham-On-Sea
tomorrow night (Wednesday) for residents to have their say about
controversial changes to this year’s carnival. The dozens of carnival
carts will be gathering for the start of this year’s carnival,
which is being held on November 3rd. More…

New
head teacher takes helm

HIGHBRIDGE’S King Alfred School has a new head
teacher this month. The deputy head teacher of one of the UK’s
most improved schools is enjoying her new role at the helm of
the school and is keen to continue the good work of the former
head teacher. More…

Quick
thinking actions praised

THE speedy actions of a quick-thinking member of staff at Burnham-On-Sea’s
Ritz Cinema has led to the safe return of a laptop computer. Purple
Watkins had accidentally left his laptop PC on the pavement next
to his parked car outside the Burnham cinema. More…

Original
comedy at theatre

BURNHAM-On-Sea’s Princess Theatre Company will be performing an
original comedy drama this Friday (September 19th). ‘Dragged Up’
by Kim Cook is an original work about growing up in the North
in a not-so-conventional family. It tells the story of a family
and how life changed them. More…

Youth
ballot gets underway

BURNHAM-On-Sea’s Member of Youth Parliament is leading Somerset’s
part in the UK’s largest-ever youth consultation exercise. Thrinayani
Ramakrishnan, an elected Member of the UK Youth Parliament (MYP)
from Burnham, is taking part in the annual ballot. More…

Michael
Eavis leads Civic Service

GLASTONBURY Festival organiser Michael Eavis was
the VIP guest who presented Civic Awards to four residents from
Burnham and Highbridge to recognise their work in the community
during the town’s annual Civic Service on Sunday. Mark and Sara
Cox-Conklin and Tony and Sue Merrett received awards. More…

‘Stranger
warning’ for parents

A HIGHBRIDGE mother has warned parents of schoolchildren
to be extra alert after a stranger approached her daughter on
the way home from school. Caroline Hutchins says the incident
has been reported to Burnham-On-Sea Police, and wants children
to take extra care. More…

Classics
go on show in village

DOZENS of vehicles from yesteryear went on display at West Huntspill’s
annual Vintage Classic Car Show on Saturday (September 13th).
The show attracted crowds of spectators to the Balliol Hall Field
in West Huntspill next to the village church during the day. More…

Stuck
horse rescued from ditch

FIRE crews were called out to rescue a stranded
horse in a ditch near East Huntspill on Sunday (September 14th).
Two fire appliances and a specialist rescue team with a telehandler
from the service’s Urban Search and Rescue team were sent just
after 8am. More…

Tributes
paid to teenager

TRIBUTES have been paid to a Burnham-On-Sea teenager
who has died this week. 18 year-old Charley Marks passed away
on Wednesday (September 10th). Scores of tributes for the former
King Alfred School student have been posted online by his friends.
More…

Hundreds
flock to see TV star

HUNDREDS of fans flocked to Brean Leisure Park
on Saturday (September 13th) to meet TV celebrity Joey Essex during
a special visit. The star of ITV’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out
Of Here and The Only Way Is Essex visited the fun park for two
hours. More…

Sue
shortlisted for Pride award

A WOMAN from Burnham-On-Sea who has dedicated more than thirty
years of her life to raising money for schools in Kenya was this
week shortlisted for a Pride of Britain Award. Sue Stevens spends
all of the summer months selling bric a brack in aid of charity.
More…

Bursary
winners announced

A BERROW meat company is one of the two winners
of a new bursary scheme being run by the organisers of Burnham-On-Sea’s
Food Drink Festival. The two winners are beef meat box scheme
Berrow Beef and the fundraising arm of St Margaret’s Hospice.
More…

Town
Civic Service today
TWO
community-spirited couples in Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge are
to receive Civic Awards on Sunday when the town’s annual Civic
Service is held. Mark and Sara Cox-Conklin and Tony and Sue Merrett
will be receiving this year’s awards at the service. More…

Classic
car show today

DOZENS of vehicles are set to go on display at
West Huntspill’s annual Vintage Classic Car Show on Saturday
(September 13th). The show will be held from 11am – 4pm on the
Balliol Hall Field in Church Road, West Huntspill next to the
village church. More…

TV
celebrity set to visit Brean

TV celebrity Joey Essex will be making a special visit to Brean
Leisure Park on Saturday evening (September 13th). The star of
ITV’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here and The Only Way Is Essex
will be visiting the fun park from around 6pm when he’ll meet
fans. More…

Towns
miss Hinkley millions

THE government’s decision to give millions of pounds of funding
to Somerset to help improve transport links ahead of the construction
of Hinkley Point C has been attacked by local residents after
Burnham and Highbridge received nothing. The Department for Transport
announced on Thursday. More…

Marine
Cove needs your vote!
BURNHAM-On-Sea’s
Marine Cove gardens are also in the running to win the title of
‘the nation’s favourite park’ and residents’ votes are needed
to help it win the crown. The Cove is among 1,482 parks across
the UK to have been nominated in the awards. More…

Two
injured in M5 accident

THE M5 near Burnham-On-Sea was temporarily closed
on Thursday afternoon (September 11th) after a serious crash involving
up to five vehicles. Two people were taken to Southmead Hospital
following the collision on the southbound carriageway at 1.20pm.
More…

Arrests
after cannabis seized

TWO men have been arrested in Burnham-On-Sea following the discovery
of more than 140 cannabis plants at properties in the town. Over
the past fortnight, Burnham Police have carried out raids at two
homes in the town where they seized the plants and held two people.
More…

Apex
bids for national park title
HIGHBRIDGE’S
Apex Widlife Park is in the running to win the title of ‘the nation’s
favourite park’ and your vote is needed to help it win the crown.
It is one of 1,482 parks across the UK to have been nominated
in The People’s Choice Awards, an annual online competition
that gives the public the chance to decide. More…

Badger
cull ‘dismay’ by carers
WILDLIFE
carers in the Burnham-On-Sea area say they are “dismayed”
by the start of a controversial badger cull in Somerset for a
second year. DEFRA confirmed this week that the second year of
the pilot badger culls are underway in Somerset and Gloucestershire.
More…

RNLI
lifeguards set to return
RNLI
lifeguards have finished their second summer season on Burnham-On-Sea
and Berrow beaches this week – and will return again next year.
Sedgemoor District Council introduced the team of lifeguards last
year to boost safety on local beaches and they have proved a success.
More…

Choir
to perform in Burnham
CHEDDAR
Male Choir will be holding a concert featuring a programme of
well-known favourites in Burnham-On-Sea this Saturday (September
13th). The performance will be held at The Princess Theatre in
Burnham’s Princess Street, starting at 7.30pm. More…

£150k
expansion for cinema
Exclusive:
BURNHAM-On-Sea’s
Ritz Cinema could soon be expanded with a new £150,000 third
screen to show even more films and entertainment. The popular
cinema in Victoria Street is this month celebrating its tenth
anniversary under the ownership of Pat and Beryl Scott. More…

Dozens
sign snack van petition
Exclusive:
DOZENS of people have signed a petition
calling on Tesco to re-think its decision to force a popular snack
van to leave the car park outside its Burnham-On-Sea store. Andy
Bell from West Huntspill got permission from the supermarket to
set up his van. More…

Secret
World book to launch

THE founder of a wildlife rescue centre near Burnham-On-Sea will
be launching a new book about her work this weekend. Pauline Kidner
from Secret World will be unveiling ‘A Place Of Safety’ featuring
stories and photos about the animals that have been cared for
there. More…

40th
anniversary fun at centre

STAFF, residents and supporters of a specialist
care centre in Brent Knoll celebrated its 40th anniversary at
the weekend with a day of fun. Somerset Court was the first specialist
centre for people with autism in the UK and remains among the
best centres in the country. More…

Anglers
reel in great catches

SEA anglers in Burnham-On-Sea took to their boats for an annual
competition at the weekend. Burnham Boat Owners Sea Angling Association
held its annual Thornback Trophy competition when anglers reeled
in a range of catches over the course of nine hours. More…

Speedwatch
group launches
A
NEW group has been formed in Burnham-On-Sea this week to help
crackdown on speeding motorists. The new speedwatch group has
this week started operating in Berrow Road after securing funding
for new speed-monitoring equipment in their area of the Burnham.
More…

Glorious
weather to continue
A
STUNNING autumn sunset created these colourful scenes in Burnham-On-Sea
last night (Monday). The mild weather combined with a calm high
tide to create perfect conditions for canoeing and photography,
as captured here by Burnham-On-Sea.com. More…

Play
area revamp hit by delay
WORK
on starting a long-awaited £31,600 project to upgrade a
play area in Highbridge which was due to begun on Monday (8th
September) has been delayed. Sedgemoor District Council says the
work at Talbot Close will now start later this month on September
29th. More…

Two
car collision in Burnham
TWO
motorists were left shaken following a crash in Burnham-On-Sea
on Monday afternoon (September 8th). Two vehicles collided at
the junction of Edithmead Lane and the B3140 near Home Farm Holiday
Park at around 3pm, confirmed a spokesperson from Burnham police.
More…

Video:
£20m habitat is flooded
HIGH
tides have been allowed to deliberately flood the Steart peninsula
coastline near Burnham this week in a £20 million scheme
to reduce the loss of inter-tidal habitat. 250 hectares of low-lying
land near the mouth of the River Parrett are under water as part
of the project. More…

Mayor
hands laptop to cadets
BURNHAM
and Highbridge’s Mayor has made a special visit to the towns’
Air Cadets where he presented them with a new laptop PC purchased
with the help of a grant from the Town Council. Cllr Martin Cox
visited the group’s hut in Highbridge Road where he handed over
the kit. More…

Hotel
revamp set to start
Exclusive: THE long-awaited redevelopment of the eyesore
Highbridge Hotel site is on schedule to be start this November,
it has been confirmed. The Chief Executive of the YMCA in Somerset
has written to town councillors to confirm that the project to
create is progressing to plan. More…

Runner
raises £18k for charity
A
BURNHAM-On-Sea runner has raised over £18,000 for charity
by completing scores of races across the UK – including Sunday’s
Great North Run. Jason Vickers, pictured, was among 57,000 runners
taking part in the annual 13.1-mile run on Tyneside during Sunday.
More…

New
book launched at Cove
A
PAPERBACK version of a new fantasy children’s book set in Burnham-On-Sea’s
Marine Cove gardens has been launched this week. Berrow author
Linda Bond’s ‘The Marine Cove Princess’, a short family story
for children, has been inspired by the seafront gardens in Burnham.
More…

In
photos: RSPCA fun day
HUNDREDS
of people attended a fun day at Brent Knoll’s RSPCA animal centre
on Sunday (September 7th). The event in the village’s Brent Road
attracted a steady flow of visitors throughout the afternoon for
a range of attractions and fun family activities. More…

170
in Brean Memory Walk
OVER
170 people pulled on their walking boots to take part in a fundraising
walk at Brean on Sunday. The annual Memory Walk was held in aid
of Alzheimer’s Society and was started by children’s television
star Sooty from outside Brean Leisure Park in the resort. More…

Cove
hosts community day
BURNHAM-On-Sea’s
Marine Cove Gardens hosted an array of guest speakers and stalls
on Saturday (September 6th) when it held a Community Day. Visitors
were able to pick up gardening tips, security advice, see artwork
and hear about how to help groups in the town. More…

Heart-stopper
for beach driver
THE
owner of this car had a heart-stopping moment on Brean beach on
Saturday evening (September 6th) when the incoming tide started
to lap around his vehicle’s wheels. The owner of the Audi A3,
believed to be from Bristol, had gone for a walk along Brean Down.
More…

Appeal
after boat is stolen
BURNHAM-On-Sea
Police have appealed for help after thieves stole a speedboat
and its engine from a business in the town. The Crusader boat
and grey Mercury 85hp outboard engine were takem from oustide
the Marine Boat Shed on Westmans Trading Estate in Burnham’s Love
Lane. More…

‘Rare’
bird dies after cat attack
AN
‘incredibly rare’ bird has died after migrating 3,000 miles from
Africa to Burnham-On-Sea only to be mauled by a pet cat. The starving
Wryneck was foraging for ants to eat in a garden when the cat
pounced. It was rushed to an animal rescue centre. More…

Sports centre to partially re-open
Exclusive: HIGHBRIDGE’S King Alfred Sports Centre will
partially re-open on Monday (September 8th) after suffering severe
flooding damage caused by a torrential rain storm last month.
The centre suffered major damage to its roof and interior after
exceptionally heavy rain caused flooding. More…

Crews
called to dog walker
BURNHAM-On-Sea
Coastguards and BARB crewmembers were called to help a dog walker
after her pet was injured in an accident on Friday morning (September
5th). Crews were called to an isolated footpath along the River
Brue on the far side of the estuary. More…

Sooty
to start Memory Walk
OVER
170 people will be taking part in a fundraising walk at Brean
this weekend. The annual Memory Walk in aid of Alzheimer’s
Society will be started by children’s TV star Sooty on Sunday
(7th September). The walkers will gather at 2pm at the Leisure
Park for the start of the event. More…

Call
for more car parks in town
Exclusive:
EXTRA car parks and residents parking schemes are needed in
Burnham-On-Sea to help ease congestion, town councillors have
said this week. The comments came during a council debate this
week following calls from a group of residents for more double
yellow lines to be introduced. More…

Huge
sand memorial created
AN
artist who has been creating huge sand art displays on Brean beach
in recent weeks has completed his biggest design yet. Simon Beck
spent over six hours creating the huge 200-metre circular design
on the sands next to Brean Down, much to the interest of beach
walkers. More…

RSPCA
fun day on Sunday
BRENT Knoll’s RSPCA animal centre is to hold a fun day and fete
with a range of animal-themed activities this Sunday (September
7th). The event will be held from 12-4.00pm at the centre in Brent
Road, Brent Knoll with all profits going to the charity’s animal
care work. More…

Sea
water challenge for charity
A
BURNHAM-On-Sea family has completed their own unique version of
the ice bucket challenge to raise money for a cause close to their
hearts. Maggie Mutton and her family were doused with buckets
of sea water next to the town’s jetty this week for MNDA. More…

Shop
starts charity fundraiser
A
BURNHAM-On-Sea shop is holding a month of fundraising fun in aid
of a cancer support charity. Hidden Treasure in Burnham’s Regent
Street is selling CLIC Sargent gold ribbons and in return she
is giving customers a free Bomb Cosmetics goody bag and a free
raffle ticket. More…

Fireman
saves life during flight
A
FIREFIGHTER from a village near Burnham-On-Sea has received a
letter of thanks from an international airline after he helped
save the life of a passenger onboard a flight to the UK from Australia.
Firefighter Neil Punt is based at Weston but lives in the village
of Mark. More…

Lucky
escape after M5 crash
TWO
people had a lucky escape following a collision on the M5 this
morning (Thursday) which led to long delays for motorists travelling
south past Burnham-On-Sea. A Land Rover was in collision with
a Ford Transit van on the southbound carriageway. More…

Police station closure confirmed
Exclusive:
THE closure of Burnham-On-Sea’s police station is set to go
ahead over the next year, the area’s top officer has confirmed
this week. Inspector Andy Pritchard told town councillors that
plans to shut the police station as part of a cost-cutting exercise
are proceeding. More…

Lighthouses
sell for charity
RESIDENTS
in Burnham-On-Sea have this week snapped up almost 30 of the mini-lighthouses
which went on display across the town this summer. 34 of the 6ft-replicas
of the iconic wooden lighthouse have been on show for four months
as part of the trail. More…

Police
hunt for missing man
A
POLICE search was launched in Burnham-On-Sea on Wednesday (September
3rd) for a missing person. The police helicopter and several police
teams were called to Burnham Holiday Village, as pictured here,
in the hunt for the missing man. More…

Fire
crews called to town shop
BURNHAM-On-Sea
fire crews were called to a town centre shop on Wednesday afternoon
(September 3rd). Two fire appliances were sent to the premises
in the High Street, as pictured here, after staff and customers
reported a smell of burning there. More…

No-fly zone now in operation
A NO-fly
zone is in operation in the skies over Burnham-On-Sea this week
during a three-day Nato summit when leaders from around the world
are meeting in Wales. The no-fly zone stretches for a wide area
around Cardiff to prevent light aircraft flying over the area.
More…

50 enjoy town holiday club
OVER
50 children enjoyed the last week of their summer holidays at
a Burnham-On-Sea church’s holiday club. Burnham Baptist Church
in College Street held a ‘Mega Makers Holiday Club’ during the
final week of August. The organisers said they were delighted.
More…

£100,000
Pier expansion delayed
Exclusive: THE expansion of Burnham-On-Sea’s seafront pier
as part of a £100,000 overhaul has been delayed until next
year. Louise Parkin, who manages the Pavilion on The Esplanade,
was granted permission to install a £60,000 high-tech folding
roof and other improvements earlier this year. More…

Call
for gull-proof bins in town
Exclusive:
A BURNHAM resident has this week called
for seagull-proof bins to be introduced in the town to reduce
the amount of rubbish strewn over pavements. Sylvia Young told
town councillors at this week’s meeting that more needs to be
done to combat the problem of rubbish. More…

Beekeeping
will be all the buzz
BURNHAM-On-Sea
and District Bee Keepers are holding a special open day this Saturday
(September 6th). The group is holding an informal course for local
people to find out more about beekeeping and how to help honey
bees. The event will run from 2-5pm. More…

Cove
to hold information day
BURNHAM-On-Sea’s
Marine Cove Gardens will be hosting an array of guest speakers
and stalls this Saturday (September 6th) when it holds a special
Community Day. Visitors will be able to pick up gardening tips,
security advice, see artwork and hear about how groups. More…

Liam
completes busy summer
A
YOUNG apprentice from King Alfred School in Highbridge has completed
a four week placement at Homes in Sedgemoor over the summer. The
Young Apprentice Programme was a collaborative project between
Homes in Sedgemoor and the school. More…

Free
school meals introduced
SCHOOLS
across the Burnham-On-Sea area are this week serving up thousands
of free daily infant school meals for the first time after new
government legislation came into force. Somerset County Council
is working closely with the schools to introduce the meals. More…

Civic
Awards winners named
TWO
community-spirited sporty couples in Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge
are to receive Civic Awards, it was announced on Tuesday. They
are Mark and Sara Cox-Conklin, who run Burnham’s Swim and Sports
Academy, and Tony and Sue Merrett from Highbridge Monarchs Gymnastics
Club. More…

Poor
interest for new town role
THE
application period for Burnham-On-Sea’s Town Centre Manager has
been extended after a poor initial response. Recruitment for the
new part-time role, which will earn £15k a year over two
years, was due to finish in August, but the campaign has been
extended. More…

Tickets
on sale for Boycie visit
ONE
of the stars of the classic BBC1 TV sitcom, Only Fools And Horses,
is coming to Burnham-On-Sea’s Princess Theatre this autumn to
entertain the audience with humorous anecdotes. Actor John Challis
is bringing his touring show to Burnham. More…

Food
Fest appeals for votes
BURNHAM-On-Sea’s
Food and Drink Festival is appealing for residents’ votes to secure
a funding boost. The town’s festival has this week been shortlisted
for the Lloyds Bank Community Fund 2014 and needs votes from local
people to win the funding for the festival. More…

Car
overturns into road ditch
A
MAN was rescued after his car overtuned into a ditch and started
filling with water near Burnham-On-Sea on Monday (September 1st).
Two fire engines and a water rescue crew were sent to the scene
at The Causeway between East Huntspill and Woolavington. More…

£31,600
revamp for play area
Exclusive:
A LONG-awaited £31,600 project
to upgrade a play area in Highbridge is set to start on Monday
8th September. Sedgemoor District Council says the three weeks
of work will get underway at Talbot Close. The new play area will
include a four-seater seesaw. More…

Big
crowds at FolkFest finale
HUNDREDS
of people crowded into Burnham-On-Sea’s Manor Gardens on Sunday
for the finale of this year’s ‘best ever’ FolkFest music festival.
Organisers said the ninth annual event, which started on Thursday,
had been the ‘best yet’ with record crowds. More…

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