A BURNHAM-on-Sea theatre has become the fourth business in the town to win a green award.

Staff at The Princess Theatre and Arts Centre have been working hard to make changes in a bid to reduce the theatre's impact on the environment since Litter Free Coasts and Sea Somerset launched their business award in March 2018.

The scheme aims to encourage businesses to make changes to their sewerage, waste, litter and drains so they have a positive impact on the environment.

Sam Nicol, manager of The Princess Theatre, said the theatre has changed the packaging used in the theatre's cafe, switched to environmentally friendly cleaning products and has been taking more care when disposing waste down drains to reduce its impact on the environment.

She said: "We are thrilled to receive these awards in recognition of the real changes that we have put in place at the Princess.

"We have a great location in town where we can showcase a host of environmental initiatives which other businesses could also put in place easily.

"Our latest venture is to support the new Walkers crisps scheme. We now provide a point for collecting empty packets to be sent off for recycling so that they don’t end up on the beaches or in landfill.”

The theatre, which is owned and managed by Burnham and Highbridge Town Council, received the accolade after completing all three levels of Litter Free Coast and Sea's business award scheme.

The Mayor of Burnham-on-Sea Cllr Bill Hancock joined Sam at the town council offices in Jaycroft Road as Tanya Cox, coastal communities officer for Litter Free Coasts and Sea Somerset presented her with the award on January 10.

Tatiana Cant, town clerk for Burnham and Highbridge Town Council, said: “The improvements at the Princess fit in well with the town council’s commitment to the Green Charter which we have recently adopted.

"The Princess is also one of the businesses included in our application to Surfers Against Sewage for our towns to become a Plastic Free Community."

Last year the theatre introduced reusable cups to avoid single use plastic and joined the national refill scheme, making it easier for residents and visitors to Burnham to refill their bottles.

The Round Tower Guest House and Gardiner-Whites, which are both based in Burnham, have also won the green accolade are as well as the town council.

Tanya Cox from Litter Free Coast & Sea Somerset congratulated the theatre and said her team was speaking to a number of businesses in Burnham and Highbridge in a bid to encourage them to do their bit for the environment.

She said: “Well done to Sam and her team for making little changes which add up to a big difference. I would like to encourage other local businesses to please contact us to find out how we can help you.

"Many of the changes your business can make which are kinder on the environment will not actually cost you any more financially and we can suggest alternative materials and suppliers.”