VISITORS to Minehead will have a heritage pointer to direct them to the town's major attractions thanks to local conservationists. Minehead Conservation Society commissioned Brian Hobbs Blacksmiths to design and make a heritage fingerpost after several local traders complained there was no sign near the seafront. Society vice chairman Sally Bainbridge, who came up with the idea, said it had seemed a practical and achievable project for the organisation and one which would make an attractive and positive contribution to the town. Mrs Bainbridge spearheaded the fundraising appeal to cover the £1,722 cost of the project, securing donations from society members, well-wishers, the West Somerset Railway, the county's historic environment fund and local county councillor Ian Galloway's community fund. The three pointer fingerpost was designed by Paul Hobbs, a member of the town's lifeboat crew, who based the boat above the pointer to the harbour on an actual cutter in Minehead harbour. The train engine atop the WSR pointer is based on an actual engine at Minehead Station, while Queen Anne points the way to the town centre. Mrs Bainbridge said the historic environment department, which had been hugely supportive of the scheme, had stipulated that the colours used on the fingerpost should match those used on the newly refurbished lamp posts - the subject of a previous initiative by the society. "We were anxious to employ a local skilled craftsman to undertake the job for the town in which he lives and although Paul made and designed the post, the job became a family affair," she said. "It was a great pleasure to liaise with such a courteous and friendly firm and we sincerely hope that Minehead will be justly proud of Paul's achievement." The fingerpost was lifted into place outside the seafront Jubilee Gardens on Wednesday with the help of staff from Minehead Town Council, which has agreed to maintain it. Pictured from the left are Somerset County Council area traffic engineer Richard Newby, Paul Hobbs, SCC highways services manager David Peake and Sally Bainbridge. Photo: Steve Guscott