THREE communities in west Somerset which “rely on tourism” will receive more than £70,000 over the next three years to promote the local area.

EDF Energy pledged to set aside funding to promote tourism in the communities most affected by the Hinkley Point C power station as part of the planning consent granted to it by the government.

Somerset West and Taunton Council has confirmed how a total of £72,000 will be spent in Minehead, Porlock and Watchet between now and 2022.

But local councillors have raised concerns that further funding will be needed after this time to sustain the appeal of these communities to those visiting the area.

The council’s executive committee approved the funding at a meeting held in Taunton on Tuesday evening (June 18).

The funding will be split between the three tourist information centres (TICs) operating in the area, which promote not only the attractions within the towns or villages but also the nearby Exmoor National Park.

Nicki Maclean, part of the council’s economic development team, said the TICs still played a vital role even as the way in which people planned their holidays and sought out local information had changed.

She said in her written report: “The growth of the internet, and other modernised tourism marketing models, has minimised the role that the TIC has in supporting the consumer to research their holiday destination in advance of prior bookings.

“However, it still has significant strength in supporting visitors once they have arrived within a destination, and helping to support accommodation providers and other key attractions in being an integral part of place based marketing and promotion.”

Minehead TIC is located within The Beach Hotel on The Avenue, near the terminus of the West Somerset Railway.

Watchet’s TIC operates from within the town’s Boat Museum on Harbour Road – also near the town’s railway station – while Porlock TIC shares its base with the village’s library on West End.

Ms Maclean added the funding would ensure the area was properly promoted to counter any negative stereotypes about the Hinkley construction.

She said: “Without support, there will be a decline in tourism information services, which will lead to a lack of quality information for tourism businesses and customers, at a time when the construction period of Hinkley Point C could have a negative impact on the perceptions of the area.” 

Of the £72,000 being set aside between now and 2022, £33,000 will go towards Minehead, with Watchet receiving £27,000 and Porlock the remaining £12,000.

Councillor Loretta Whetlor – who represents Watchet and Williton – questioned what would happen once the EDF funding ran out, stressing the importance of tourism to the local economy.

She said: “If the money’s only going to last three years, what are we supposed to do after that?

“Minehead and Watchet are tourism towns – we rely on tourism. We don’t have much more there.

“We’ve got to have money to be able to survive – I know the pots are empty in most places, but tourism is a big thing for us in west Somerset.”

Ms Maclean said just over £67,000 would remain available after 2022 within the funding allocated to tourism by EDF Energy, which would be allocated at a future date.