A BUSINESS plan to secure £1.6million of funding to revitalise Burnham-on-Sea's Esplanade has been approved.

Councillors from Burnham and Highbridge Town Council met today (June 18) to discuss the plans which could see could see new attractions and enhancements on the town’s esplanade and The Princess Theatre and Arts Centre refurbished.

At the meeting, Cllr Peter Burridge-Clayton revealed the council will be putting in bids to the Hinkley Impact Mitigation Fund and the Coastal Communities Fund for £1.6 million of funding. 

The funds will go towards creating floor games on the town's Esplanade, constructing a children's play area, creating seafront artwork, refurbishing and maintaining shelters along the Esplanade, installing new bins and signs and creating a community hub in the Princess Theatre and Arts Centre. 

Councillor Louise Parkin said she was concerned the cost of maintaining new toilets on the Esplanade and at the Princess Theatre had not been factored in to the business plan.

"Nothing has been put down for future maintenance of new toilets, it has not been considered," Cllr Parkin said. 

"We need a commitment from Sedgemoor District Council that the toilets will be maintained otherwise there is no point in doing it."

Councillor Clayton told Cllr Parkin that maintenance costs had been included in the business plan. 

Councillor Parkin said: "You say maintenance costs have been factored in here, but how long for? five years? ten years?"

Councillor Clayton said: "They have been considered for the foreseeable future."

Councillor Michael Clarke also raised concerns about the construction of a play area on the Esplanade and said he thought money was going to be spent revitalising and maintaining seafront flower beds.

"People like walking down that area of the seafront and I am not sure  that area is the best location for it," Cllr Clarke said.

"If there is a play area children need to be near food and water and have access to toilets."

Councillor Clayton said the plans for a play area are 'not set in stone' as the council needs to secure funding for the project. 

Burnham-on-Sea MP James Heappey  said: “I am pleased to see the Council are putting together this project. With the busy tourism season approaching, it is important the Esplanade looks its very best.

“Burnham-on-Sea is a wonderful place for people to visit and there will be people who will dismiss these improvements but I could not disagree more. For a tourist town, first impressions really matter.”  

Despite concerns being raised councillors unanimously voted in favour of the business plan.