Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge Town Council are pleased to announce that a set of Railway Waggon Wheels which have been in the “sidings” for some five years, have finally found their right setting as a permanent reminder of Highbridge’s important railway history.

Cllr Mrs Pat Burge contacted Mr Mike Lawrence, whose business interests include road haulage of large locomotives.  Mr Lawrence, sourced the set of Bogey Wheels at Buckfast and transported them ‘free of charge’ he then stored them for about three years and has ‘Donated’ them to the Town Council. Mr Nigel Haggett constructed and landscaped the site on which the Wheels are set and also had it planted.

At the time this project was originally discussed, Cllr Neville Jones was the Chairman of the Town Improvements Committee, he said “I know people feel it has taken a very long while to take this offer up and place it in an attractive location; however, Somerset County Council have vetoed over the years, three suggested locations, but with continual talks between the Town Council and Highways Department have concluded with the Bogey Wheels being installed at the side of a very important roundabout in Highbridge.  We are extremely grateful to Mike Lawrence who has had the Bogey Wheels shot blasted and re-painted, also providing the railway line on which they have been mounted”.

The set of wheels were inspected this week by their donor and local Cllrs.  Mr Mike Lawrence, Cllr Mrs Pat Burge, Cllr Neville Jones and Cllr Mrs Phoebe Harling (Acting Chairman of Town Improvements Committee).

It is the intention of the Town Council at a later date to place a plaque by the Bogey Wheels recalling Highbridge’s important railway past and could form part of the Jubilee celebrations next year, as Queen Elizabeth II alighted at Highbridge station on December 5^th 1983 for her visit to the Radio Station in Worston Road, Highbridge.

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