BUSINESSES in Minehead are being urged to register for a new gift card scheme, which has been given the go-ahead as part of town centre’s recovery plans.

All types of businesses are eligible to join the new free gift card programme, including retail, leisure, hospitality and services.

The card will be available for people to buy online from early April, in values from £5 to £500. It will work like a regular store gift card, keeping money in the town and making local shopping simple for residents and tourists, the organisers announced this week.

Minehead was awarded £100,000 by Somerset West and Taunton council as part of a £500,000 Emergency Town Centre Recovery Fund in October and the gift card is the latest initiative from the steering group set up by Minehead Business Improvement District (BID).

Steering group chairman Julian Abraham, owner of Old Ship Aground pub, said: “The impact of the latest lockdown has been catastrophic for businesses in Minehead. As a seaside town with a reliance on tourism, that income was decimated last year.

“Traders clawed back what they could in the summer last year, and the community has really shown their support by shopping locally, but the reality is that most businesses are treading water and desperately need help.

“The loneliness as a business owner, trying to cope with the constant lockdowns is beyond belief. The fact that there is help coming for the beleaguered local trader with the new gift card will be such a relief to business owners, knowing that people care, and are driving impactful projects for the town.

“The card will be like having our own local currency. As we prepare to open up after this third lockdown, this is the ideal time for businesses to join the scheme.”

For the full story see this week’s West Somerset Free Press.