BUNTING has been put up to brighten Minehead town centre this summer. Minehead Business Improvement District (BID) had already introduced extra flower baskets and decided to trial bunting, which was once a popular sight in the town’s shopping streets.

BID manager Andrew Hopkins negotiated help from Somerset West and Taunton Council (SWAT), who used a platform vehicle to replace old hooks used when bunting was last installed a decade ago. Landlord and retailer support to have the rusting hooks replaced was, bar one, universal.

“The initial response from shopkeepers and SWAT’s offer helped enormously,” said BID chairman Graham Sizer. “It was a wonderful joint effort, the sort of thing normally the preserve of village carnival organisers.”

Minehead BID aims to raise the profile of the resort as a destination for both retail and tourism, to increase footfall, and ensure the viability of the town for all stakeholders; “This is just the first stage in our plan,” said Mr Hopkins.

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