A MULTI-million pound redevelopment of the heart of Minehead's retail centre could kickstart a much needed regeneration of the town's commercial economy. The vision drawn up by Minehead Chamber of Trade and revealed exclusively in the Free Press today (Friday) is at an early stage. But business leaders believe it would inject new vitality into high street shopping, currently under threat from the proposed out-of-town retail complex on the Vulcan Road car park. The innovative and ambitious scheme would cover a stretch of The Avenue from, and including, the Co-Op supermarket to the Priory. And, in addition to improving the attractiveness of the largely one-storey shops, it could also create around 2,000 metres of additional retail space in a new shopping precinct. This would be developed around the Regal Theatre, which would remain as it is with its facade preserved. "This vision is only one idea, one of many that are coming forward as an alternative to the Vulcan Road proposal," said chamber of trade chairman Graham Sizer. "It has come about because while West Somerset Council feels regeneration of the town centre starts by building a retail park on the edge of Minehead, totally against Government guidelines, some people are throwing other ideas into the public arena for comment." Mr Sizer said the potential redevelopment of the area around the Regal had been flagged up in the past - most notably in the Pieda report published in 1995 - and most people accepted that at some time in the future it would need revamping. He said the planning gain of the additional shopping space would come from an estimated 80 to 100 flats above the retail outlets, probably providing sufficient funding for a small multi-storey car park at the rear. This, said Mr Sizer, would solve town centre parking problems and also provide the Regal with disabled access and a fire exit. Preliminary talks have taken place with owners of the properties earmarked for inclusion in the revamp and Mr Sizer said initial responses had been positive. "No existing shops will lose space - in fact some will gain. "The potential town centre collapse, likely if large retailers build along what is the main arterial route into town, has meant that property owners are prepared to work together for the good of the high street - or risk seeing their property values plummet." Mr Sizer said the scheme demonstrated that if there was a need for more retail space in Minehead and the wider West Somerset area, the town centre had the capacity to provide it. "Government guidelines require a thorough assessment of town centre sites before looking for shopping space on the edge of town and we do not believe the district council has done this. "We want to stress this is only an idea and in its early conceptual form. But we are looking at having a feasibility study carried out and would also like to see some sort of 'planning for real' exercise involving every member of the public. "We believe this could be a very important step for Minehead because it represents real regeneration. "Hundreds of thousands of pounds of ratepayers' money has been thrown at studies and surveys in the last ten years. "And thousands of hours of the town's top business, cultural, educational and social leaders have pointed towards robust and achievable projects. "Most of the ideas have been shelved, only to be resurrected at the next expensive survey. "The district council has wasted public money in an inordinate way and it must be told to 'about-turn' now." Details of the proposals have been sent to district council leader Cllr Steven Pugsley.