TOURISM businesses demonstrated their anger at the loss of West Somerset's dedicated visitor guide this week when they handed over a 500-plus signature petition calling for it to be saved. The Minehead Hoteliers Association (MHA) was behind the action, sparked by the decision of the directors of the company behind the Exmoor Coast and Country brochure to pull the plug on the 2008 publication. John Richards and Roger Barbee cited the failure of Visit Exmoor - the industry-led company charged with spearheading tourism promotion districtwide - to pass on an annual £15,000 grant towards production costs for both the 2007 and 2008 guides as the reason. Visit Exmoor, which has been hit by months of internal wrangling, is itself facing the axe, with its directors set to recommend to its annual meeting in December that it is wound up. MHA chairman Peter Thompson said his organisation felt it had to do something to show the concern felt by so many tourism businesses about the current situation. The petition circulated for less than a fortnight in local shops, restaurants, cafés, pubs and other businesses. "Most people realise that without visitors coming to Minehead, all businesses will suffer - not just the accommodation providers." The petition was handed over to West Somerset Council's tourism portfolio holder Cllr Michael Downes, who is working with industry leaders to resolve the situation. Pictured at the handover are, from the left, Peter Thompson, Linda Hatch, Linda Garner, Carol Dashfield, Malcolm Garner, Ed Moulder and Cllr Michael Downes. Photo: Steve Guscott