This Week in Burnham-on-Sea

This week in Burnham-on-Sea and surrounding areas, there's a mix of heartwarming community spirit and some concerning news. On a positive note, the Burnham Moose Lodge has generously donated £5,541 to local good causes after a year of fundraising. Brent Knoll is once again adorned with its traditional Easter crosses, a 40-year old springtime spectacle. Our town also saw a touching tribute planned with a fly-past for a former Royal British Legion Chairman, and Civic Awards were presented to recognise community-spirited residents. Avenue Tennis Club is celebrating a successful winter league and growing membership, while a young Burnham racer is set to compete on the national karting stage. The Highbridge Festival music week was a resounding success with nearly 800 performances, and volunteers were thanked for collecting 20 bags of rubbish during the Great British Spring Clean. Good news for Highbridge residents includes the recycling centre's upcoming summer opening hours and an Easter Fair held at St John's Church. Burnham High Street is also set to benefit from an upgrade with 19 new lighting columns. Looking ahead, there's a £5 million boost for Somerset road maintenance and Somerset Council has unveiled its first Local Nature Recovery Strategy to protect wildlife. However, there are also significant concerns. MP Ashley Fox has warned that rising costs threaten the future of Somerset's carnivals, and has joined a Westminster debate urging government action. The MP is also calling for an end to "unfair treatment" of veterans. A concerning incident has been reported with police issuing an appeal after a woman was raped in Rooksbridge. Residents in Highbridge are unhappy that a planned new community hall might be scrapped, and the MP feels Highbridge has been overlooked for regeneration funding. In other news, the demolition of a historic Burnham building is set to begin to make way for a new care home, and the operator of Brean Theme Park has had its lease forfeited as Unity Holidays moves to secure its future. Health chiefs are also urging residents to plan ahead for Easter, with bin collection changes reminding people to check their schedules. The air ambulance was also seen in Burnham-on-Sea to assist a patient in medical emergency.