MORE than 500 people have signed a petition calling on Burnham and Berrow Golf Club to reconsider its decision not to support plans to extend a popular coastal path.

In May, Greenways and Cycle Routes Limited secured planning permission to spend £229,000 to extend Brean Down Way coastal path in a triangular circuit to serve Burnham-on-Sea, Berrow and Brent Knoll.

But the project was stopped in its tracks after Burnham and Berrow Golf Club said it is not willing to give up land.

In a bid to push the plans ahead, members of Brean Seasonal Caravanners (BSC) set up a petition, which received more than 500 signatures in two days.

Martin Mills, founder of BSC, said: "When we learned of the golf club's reluctance to support the 2nd phase of the path we realised that this was likely to have a detrimental affect for our members.

"We hoped by the provision of a petition we might be able to illustrate to the club's just how important the path is and perhaps encourage them to at the very least revisit their decision to see if it could be changed."

Martin said the existing path, Brean Down Way, has already had a 'very positive impact' on tourism in Brean and offers more safety for pedestrians and cyclists travelling the difficult roads to and from the caravan parks at night.

Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News:

More than 500 people have signed the petition, pictured, to extend Brean Down Way

He said the new path, which would be placed along the edge of Coast Road in Burnham-on-Sea, would have 'little impact' on the golf course as hedges on the edge of the road are currently overgrown.

"From a safety perspective alone, this development has substantial benefits," Martin said.

"The stretch of road is notoriously dangerous for those on foot and has been waiting for path for many years.

"Over the whole mile and a half stretch from Unity Farm to Berrow Church there is only three land owners on the west side of Coast Road - Unity Farm, Sedgemoor District Council and Burnham and Berrow Golf Club.

"From what we understand, Sedgemoor and Unity fully support the scheme but the golf course remains unconvinced.

"The two tee's along the stretch of course both play diagonally away from the road so there would be little danger.

"The cycle path proposal even allows for the provision of a high fence which will increase security for the golf club.

"The very fact that this project attracts European funding, it seems logical for the Village to grab this with both hands.

"It would be such a shame for Brean to lose this opportunity without further consideration to its merits, effectively this is what we are asking with the petition, please can you look at this again?."

In a statement published in the Weekly News in June, a spokesman for the club, said: "The golf club, through its Board of Directors and Trustees in principle support the cycle route and the merits of which have been discussed at length with Mr Grimshaw and local Councillors. 

"Regrettably after a comprehensive study by Professional Consultants the Directors have been advised that the current proposal cannot be supported.

"The reasons relate to the safety of cyclists and others, serious liability issues raised by our insurers and the need to redesign no less than 7 of 18 holes on the Championship Course. 

"This includes protection measures for members of the public. 

"These are disproportionate to the benefits of the proposal and would create long term disruption to the golf course which is ranked in the top echelons of Golf Courses in UK and Ireland.

"The club remains open to exploring further opportunities in creating pedestrian links from Berrow to Burnham and will continue to work with the local Councillors in this regard.”

To sign the petition visit www.change.org and search Brean and Berrow Golf Club.