Diamond Jubilee party 'will go ahead'
Organisers of Burnham's 'biggest ever event' are confident that Diamond Jubilee celebrations will go ahead despite funding not yet being in place.
Last month a group headed by Think! Burnham announced plans to combine the annual Donkey Derby with a High Street party to mark the Queen's 60-year reign in a double-header of parties over the bank holiday weekend in June.
Readers on the Advertiser website have questioned who would pay for the jubilee party, which would cost an estimated £11,000.
Think! Burnham chairman Viv Nicholas confirmed no public money will be spent, with sponsorship from community groups and businesses being sought as well as possible grants from organisations including Buckinghamshire Community Foundation and SEGRO.
He added: "We haven't secured any funding yet but we're pretty confident we'll get there."
The organising group, which also features representatives from Burnham High Street Association, Cyclewise Thames Valley and Burnham Working Men's Club, has discussed proposals with Burnham Parish Council chairman Lin Hazell. At a parish council meeting on Monday, January 30, Cllr Hazell expressed her concerns about the event.
She said: "There's a conversation going on but it's a mammoth project. We didn't dismiss working in partnership with them but there's got to be a huge risk assessment on this and I don't think we've got the capacity to do that."
Think! Burnham, a steering group of villagers and community organisations, will submit formal plans to Bucks County Council, which has scrapped the cost of road closures for jubilee parties. At the group's monthly meeting on Monday last week members decided unanimously to proceed with plans.
Viv said: "Everybody agreed it should go forward. We recognise the questions but we think we've got enough capacity and people involved to make this a success."
