Somerset Council has provided an update after a section of Apex Park in Burnham-on-Sea was cordoned off last week due to the discovery of suspected unexploded ordnance during construction work.
The restricted area, located on the eastern side of the park’s lake, was sealed off on Thursday, March 7, by Avon and Somerset Police as a safety precaution.
The council confirmed it has engaged a specialized contractor to carry out further inspections and safely remove any remaining hazardous items, scheduled for Friday, March 13.
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Apex Park, which spans 42 acres and features amenities such as a woodland walk, outdoor gym, skatepark, and fishing lake, is expected to reopen by the weekend. However, the council cautions that the closure might extend briefly to facilitate improvements to fishing platforms and allow grassed areas to recover.
A Somerset Council spokesperson stated: “We have arranged for specialist contractors to conduct thorough checks and remove any additional devices as a precaution. While we hope to reopen the site by the weekend, the cordon may remain temporarily to accommodate groundworks improving access to fishing platforms and to let the grass recover before the public returns.”
The Army bomb disposal team responded promptly on Thursday to secure what are believed to be mortar shells and a grenade dating back to the Second World War. A safety cordon with a 50-metre radius has been maintained since the discovery.