PLANS are underway to create a £40,000 heritage trail in Minehead, taking visitors and residents on a scenic and informative journey of the town.

At a West Somerset Cabinet meeting yesterday, (October 1), councillors planned to recommend the allocation of funds to full council.

The Minehead Heritage Trail Project has been worked up by Stephen Hooper, the Minehead Vision manager and the Minehead Development Trust.

The £43,053.97 needed for the project has come from the Section 106 agreement between the district authority and Morrisons.

£150,000 was given from the supermarket to the council which was agreed to be used to improve and enhance areas within the town.

Plans for the heritage trail include creating a heritage archway at the supermarket car park with information about the town.

Apps for smart phones and tablets will also be create, telling the story of Minehead's heritage and taking people on a journey around the harbour and the upper town - North Hill and the parks.

Mr Hooper said: “This is a really exciting and important project which brings together so many different parts of Minehead and the heritage.

“We want to make the area a fit for purpose place for visitors. “The archway would be at the entrance to the cycle route by the supermarket, many visitors coming in don't know how to get to the town from the car park so there would be information there to show them.”

There are also plans for leaflets with information and two touch screen kiosks at the Minehead Information Centre at the Beach Hotel - one with 24 hour access and a Wi-Fi hub at the train station.

Mr Hooper added: “Two trees will be illuminated with LEDs in the town and if these go down well then we hope to have all of the trees along the Avenue filled with lights.

“We want to link all areas of the town together and this is such a simple but I think really effective project.”

If the scheme is agreed, there will still be around £40,000 for another project in Minehead.

Minehead Town Council has also been asked to come forward with other proposals meeting the criteria of the agreement for the remaining money which has to be allocated by April next year.