A HERITAGE trail which aims to make Minehead a cultural hub in West Somerset attracting thousands more visitors by 2020 has been given the green light by councillors.

The plans were approved at a full meeting of West Somerset Council last night.

It would link different areas of the town together and take residents and visitors on a scenic and informative journey through Minehead.

The project is the latest from the Minehead Development Trust.

Minehead Vision manager Stephen Hooper, who has been working with the development trust on the scheme, said: “This is a really exciting project which will link all the different strands of the town together.

“I’m really hoping it will cement Minehead and make it even more popular as a destination by 2020.”

The plans for the £40,000 project include a heritage archway in Morrisons car park with information about the town.

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

Cllr Richard Lillis said: “I really do feel this is such a wonderful concept for Minehead and one which will help boost the fact that it is an old iconic Victorian town.

“The apps and leaflets will help to make Minehead a user-friendly place both for residents and visitors.

“A lot of visitors stay at Butlin’s and visit Morrisons but there is no real signage telling people how they can get into the town.

“This really does glue all the different parts of the town together, and will make Minehead a great place to visit.”

A wi-fi hub will also be located at the train station along with two touch-screen information kiosks at the Minehead Information Centre, and information boards and leaflets.

Two trees in The Avenue will also be illuminated with LEDs, and Mr Hooper is hoping to fill all the trees in The Avenue with lights eventually.

The £48,053.97 needed for the project, which includes £5,000 for maintenance, comes from the Section 106 agreement between West Somerset Council and Morrisons.

The money is part of a £150,000 pot which the supermarket gave to the council to improve and enhance areas within the town.

Mr Hooper said: “This is a really important piece of work which will lay the corner foundation stone to making Minehead even greater in the next few years.

“We are hoping to have everything up and running by February 2015.”

The allocation to the Heritage Trail will leave some £34,000 still in the pot for town centre enhancements.

And residents are being encouraged to come forward with their ideas.

Cllr Lillis added: "We really want people who have ideas on how to enhance Minehead to come forward.

"We want to make the town even more vibrant for people to live, work and for the visitors too."

A pilot project lighting up key trees in The Avenue, funded by Minehead Town Council and the Chamber of Trade will also get under way – and people will be encouraged to feed back their opinions on the lights.

If popular the scheme could be extended.

Deputy Leader of the Council, Cllr Kate Kravis, said: “This is great for Minehead and something really positive.”

Cllr Mandy Chilcott, a Minehead central ward councillor and member of the Vision Group, added: “I am delighted this project has come before the council.

"It is really important to increase the footfall between Morrisons and the town to get people to visit our local shops and businesses.

"Minehead has so much to offer and we need to encourage visitors to take some time to have a good look around the whole of Minehead.”