With its picturesque views over the River Crouch, rail network and weatherboarded cottages, Burnham has a wealth of attractions on which to build. Amanda Brandon spoke to Terry Quinlan, who is involved in two organisations which are working on improving the town.

Burnham Strategy Group has been quick to identify improvements needed in the town for the benefit of residents and visitors alike.

Since the group started three years ago, it has come up with various strategies for other organisations to take forward.

These include lobbying successfully for improved signage at the industrial estates, yellow lines at a traffic blackspot, landscaping of industrial areas and retaining the tourist information centre.

Administrator Terry Quinlan said: "Our major project in the future would be to eliminate unkempt sites in Burnham, and we have identified 18 of them.

"For example, at the memorial we have flower beds around the site and they are overgrown, but I have got volunteers to do the work.

"We also have a landscaping plan which we would like Maldon District Council and the Town Council to implement."

But Mr Quinlan said that the Strategy Group was disappointed with the district council's economic strategy plan. "We feel it isolates Burnham, and one of our priorities is to encourage Maldon District Council to give greater resources to develop industry there," he said.

"We also feel we have a need for developing tourism. It is ideally situated for cycle paths, rambling, and bed and breakfast.

"Although we have a bad road structure, we do have a good rail network, which Maldon hasn't got."

Mr Quinlan, a former deputy mayor, believes that developing the country park as a tourist attraction, a major attraction such as a swimming pool and a few high quality shops could be the making of the town.

As the new chairman of the town's chamber of trade, he plans to work with the business community in helping it with a range of services including training.

"Both the Chamber and the Strategy Group are working together for the same thing -- for the economic prosperity of the town and individuals, and that will obviously give an increase in prosperity for the inhabitants," said Mr Quinlan.

A retired management consultant, he believes that the town should be aiming its sights higher and reaping the rewards.

Terry Quinlan: High hopes for Burnham.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.