CONTROVERSIAL plans for an all-night open air music, disco and entertainments extravaganza in Minehead to mark the turn of the millennium were this week rejected by West Somerset District Council.

The council's cabinet decided the proposed cliff-top site in Culvercliffe was not a suitable venue.

Councillors agreed to reconsider the scheme if organisers Mark and Martin Griffiths could find a suitable alternative site owned by the authority.

The brothers wanted to put up two marquees each capable of holding around 800 people at either end of the Culvercliffe site, one for live bands and one for a disco.

In between would be rides, games and stalls, with security staff and St John first aiders on duty.

An entrance fee would be charged, food and drink would be on sale and all profits would go to local and regional charities.

The brothers said in a letter to the council there were many reasons for wanting to organise such an event.

They said: "The obvious is for us all to celebrate the millennium, but there are a few other reasons that are quite personal to a group of us in Minehead.

"We are fed up with Minehead being run by people with no ambition to push Minehead into the 21st century.

"Living in the shadow of Butlins makes it very hard to achieve anything substantial for this town, but it is about time Minehead stood on its own.

"More money needs to be ploughed in by local people who have a genuine love for Minehead and this area, not people who come here to retire and keep their hands in their pockets.

"People like this are usually quick to put down any ideas from the young, but the younger generation are the future of Minehead."

However, the plans were criticised by organisers of Minehead's Walk of Lights millennium celebration and by residents in nearby Quay West and Quay Street.

Walk of Lights organiser and district Cllr Christine Lawrence said her event would culminate in the harbour area not far from Culvercliffe at midnight.

Cllr Lawrence said plans for the candlelit walk through the town and across North Hill had been in progress since last December.

Around 1,000 people were expected to take part and they would be swelled by others attending the harbour for a firework display and other activities.

Cllr Lawrence said the music festival could suffer problems caused by drunkeness, although she understood alcohol would not be on sale at the event itself.

She was worried about the effect of a music festival so close to the church-organised walk.

"It would be impossible for us to change our plans at this late stage," she said.

"We do not feel the two events will be compatible, and for them to take place in such close proximity to each other will not be of benefit to either event.

"We are not in any way opposed to the event and and are sure it will provide both an alternative and/or additional way of celebrating this unique time."

Cllr Lawrence said other sites could prove more suitable, such as the Irnham Road recreation ground, Minehead Rugby Club or the Ellicombe 20-acre field.

Minehead Town Council expressed concern at possible noise problems for local residents, site security, the need for adequate toilet facilities, policing and crowd control and the need for floodlighting and boardwalks because the ground was hazardously uneven.

Town clerk Mervyn Yendole said there were also grave reservations about traffic and pedestrian congestion.

Mr Yendole said it could require a ban on all traffic beyond the Red Lion Hotel with a park-and-ride scheme organised for people who needed transport.

He said the harbour area would already be well used due to the Walk of Lights, a private event in Minehead Lifeboat station and late-night opening in the Old Ship Aground pub.

Local residents feared having to endure noise throughout the night as well as congestion and disruption caused by traffic both before and after the music event.

Others were worried about access for the emergency services and the possible effect on the lifeboat if it had to launch.

They also pointed out a 12-hour disco did not sit comfortably with celebrations of the birth 2000 years ago of Christ.