MORE than 700 people have signed a petition opposing plans to turn Minehead's Beach Hotel into a retail and housing complex. Businessman Alan Kanerick has renewed his bid to win approval for the ambitious scheme, which would see the landmark Victorian seafront building converted into 14 flats, a mix of restaurants, take- away outlet and convenience store. An initial application was turned down by West Somerset Council's planning committee late last year, against the advice of officers. The latest bid is unchanged from the original but Mr Kanerick is confident that he has addressed all the issues cited as reasons for the earlier refusal. However, critics, who include the Minehead Conservation Society, are continuing their opposition to the scheme, which is expected to go before the planning committee again within the next month. They want to see the building retained as a hotel, although the council currently has no specific policy to prevent its loss, and are also concerned about the impact of the proposed changes on the surrounding conservation area. A conservation society spokeswoman said a total of 710 people had so far signed a petition against Mr Kanerick's plans. "That has been submitted to the council but the petition is still open and more names are being added all the time," she said. Mr Kanerick, a director of Minehead Renaissance Ltd, has made it clear that the building needs substantial investment and has no prospect of becoming a viable hotel business.
