A ROW is brewing over the annual food and drink festival in Burnham.

A group of angry residents and traders has slammed Burnham and Highbridge Town Council for using taxpayers’ money to fund the festival.

A letter was read out at the town council meeting, stating that people were not happy with the next food festival, which is due to take place receiving £1,000 of the council’s budget.

This money is taken from public funding and paid for by the tax payer, something which the letter made clear some residents were against.

The News has spoken to several people who say they are in favour of the festival-but don’t agree with the grant.

However, one business has spoken out claiming they signed the petition without knowing specifically what it was about.

Heidi Cook, whose café Chatterbox is situated in the heart of where the food festival is based said: “The food festival was a great opportunity to showcase my business.

“Chatterbox’s name was signed on the petition by a confused member of staff who seems to have been somewhat confused.

Retired Paul Hamilton, who is in favour of petition said: “This event should not be getting any money from the council and therefore the taxpayer.”

A total of 72 local residents and traders have signed the petition objecting to the funding issue.

Mrs Popham, the Burnham resident who penned and read out the petition letter at the town council meeting, was left seething over the outcome of how their objections were received, claiming her objections were not even looked at in the meeting.

Festival Director, Beverley Milner Simonds, has hit back at the petition, stating that the festival is a “free fun day out for the whole family”.

She said: “Both Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge Town Council and Sedgemoor District Council have been happy to support the festival, so that it can provide for local visitors.

“We were surprised by Mrs Popham’s presentation to the council, in the pre-meeting residents’ allocated time.

“She had not raised her points with us previously although we have worked quite closely with her on other voluntary projects in Burnham.

“We take the safety of our visitors, stalls and those around the festival very seriously”.

The Burnham Food and Drink Festival, organised by The People’s Plot, is in its third year of running and takes place in the town centre in Princess Street, Victoria Street and College Street, all of which close to traffic on the day.

Cllr Mike Facey, who chaired the policy and finance committee, is a strong supporter of the event.

“I don’t think there was any need for the petition and any decision that the council has made is a council decision,” he said.