The year of 2015 has been a roller coaster for many in Burnham and Highbridge and district with the promise of new jobs at Hinkley, but also the closure of Morrisons supermarket.

How that will affect the future of the town is yet to be discovered. Highbridge has seen changes with a revamp of the post office into The Pillar Box that includes a cosy café as well as Asda expanding with a pay the pump filling station. There’s been no progress of Sedgemoor’s plans for the Isleport land despite the work of local councillors to find out what has happened to the Tesco 106 money although King Alfred School is set to benefit from some of the money.

The area also saw a change of MP with the Liberal Democrat Tessa Munt losing out to James Heappey of the Conservative Party.

Duncan McGinty of Sedgemoor has reflected on the year poiting out the continued cutbacks there have been to local Government. He said: “Despite the funding cutbacks and the recession, SDC have attracted over £400 million of investment in the last year. Companies both large and small have chosen Sedgemoor as their base. Our unemployment level is now the lowest in the South West, only 170 long-term unemployed, despite our population growing by over 1,400 in each of the last five years.”

Football legend Spencer Dibble of Burnham was more downbeat with these thoughts: “My thoughts are one of sadness really. The terrible bombings that have killed and maimed so many people. The Plane that was believed to have been blown up in mid-air, all the poor people on board and the families left behind. All children the world over, where there is no real hope of ever having a good life to look forward too. All the mistreated animals everywhere. The mindless shootings and in this country in particular, the stabbings that have ruined so many lives, forever. May 2016, the world over, be a happier and better place to live in. On a brighter note for 2016, promotion for Bristol Rovers from Division 2 of the Football League.”

One of the town’s most high profile characters, the Burnham town centre manager Beverly Milner Simonds said: “It has been a varied year! We have had races with vicars and estate agents tossing pancakes on the High Street, dragon hunting by local nursery school children on St George's Day and a paper aeroplane champion crowned. The appearance of the yellow tarmac, the bunting, flags, new lighting, shutter art, business frontage grants, Christmas lights and new maps have all caused debate locally and I don't expect that to decrease in 2016; Burnham businesses and residents are proud of their town centre."

David Peek, a regular at Brean golf course and who has entertained us with stories of times gone by said: “The year 2015 has had some minus and plus moments , on the minus both myself and my golfing partner have been recovering from operations meaning golf this year has been a washout

“On the plus side we have seen more of our grandchildren , youngest at playgroup , oldest now into second year at school where we were able to attend her first sports day , where I at least was pleased to find there are no ‘fat grandad races’ . I have also been pleased to contribute a few tales of long ago to the Mercury which our descendants may find to read in the archives

“2016 holds the hope that returned to full fitness I may be back to our regular golfing schedule, the downside may be less time to compile the old tales.”

Sarah Milner Simonds of the town’s Sea Food & Drink Festival also reflected on the year. She said: "2015 was a great year for the festivals with wonderful weather, more local businesses involved than ever, a cracking team of volunteers and 16 - 20,000 people visiting Burnham-on-Sea. We may not be everyones cup of tea but we will keep trying to make this a better place for everyone to live, work and visit."

James Heappey said: “2015 has been quite a year. Personally, it was with great pride and huge relief that I was elected as the MP for the Wells Constituency especially as it was on a night that our county turned completely blue. Serving at Westminster as part of a strong team of Conservative Somerset MPs has allowed us to raise the profile of some of the county’s most pressing issues: healthcare, school funding, broadband, transport links, support for tourism, a good deal on devolution and a sensible approach to housing policy in rural areas.”

May we take this opportunity of wishing all our readers a happy and prosperous new year.