IT was a "busy and productive" year for the Quantock Hills AONB in 2001, despite having to cope with the impact of the foot and mouth disease crisis.
The Quantock Greenway footpath was completed, the visitor centre was relocated to Fyne Court and more archaeological investigations were carried out than ever before.
In the hills' annual report for 2001-02, chairman of the area's joint advisory committee, county Cllr Anthony Trollope-Bellew, said the last 12 months would inevitably be remembered for the "disastrous effects" of foot and mouth.
He said the AONB service had done much to alleviate the problems experienced by farmers and those in the tourism industry as stock movements were restricted and visitors stayed away from the hills.
In his report foreword, Cllr Trollope-Bellew said: "The AONB service responded quickly and properly to the initial threat - imposing and monitoring daily an access ban on the commons, setting up and servicing antiseptic scrubs and key points on the hills and putting out public information through on-site notices, websites, radio and television interviews and press releases.
"At that time I was chairman of the Quantock Commoners' Association and the speed of reaction of the AONB service was greatly appreciated by the active commoners.
"While the public response to the situation was excellent and worthy of praise, this presented a real problem for local pubs, tea rooms, campsites, B&Bs, shops and post offices and . . . the AONB service also worked to alleviate these problems during the crisis."
He said it had been a credit to all those involved in the project that, despite the problems earlier in the year, the Quantock Greenway footpath was opened as planned.
The aim of the 34-mile route was to give visitors better access to village amenities and to help protect sensitive hilltop areas by offering alternative walks.
The hills' AONB officer, Chris Edwards, said a wide range of positive projects and targets had been achieved during the year and praised the "positive attitude, enthusiasm and sense of service" embodied by the AONB team.
Among the on-going projects which were still gathering support was a plan to protect and enhance traditional cast-iron road signs.
A similar scheme was to introduce traditional-style village entry signs, which would be made of cast metal, painted black and white and feature the distinctive buzzard logo of the Quantock Hills.
Over Stowey was lined up to be the first village in the AONB area to get a new sign as part of the village's jubilee celebrations, while West Bagborough had also shown an interest in the scheme.