A PROJECT aimed at improving Minehead's prosperity with a range of economy boosting initiatives is heading for an extension - thanks to some prudent money management. The town was awarded £200,000 of Government Seaside Strategy Funding in 2010 in recognition of its position as one of the 25 most deprived coastal towns in England. With West Somerset Council acting as the 'banker', a total of £70,000 of the funding was allocated to appoint a Minehead vision manager, with Stephen Hooper taking up the post in December 2012, and an apprentice, Daniel Cross, recruited in May last year. The two posts were for a minimum of 18 months, with Minehead Development Trust overseeing their work. A further £35,535 of funding was awarded to the project to 'pump-prime' activities from the business plan which focused on the town's maritime and horticultural heritage, visitor information centre, cultural quarter and business engagement. The district council's scrutiny committee was told by economic regeneration manager Corinne Matthews last week that the MDT was currently in the throes of writing several large funding bids to both maintain the existing provision and develop other activity further. "However, if the project is required to stop in June, there will be a gap in continuity of delivery," she said. "This will have a significant impact on some work streams as there will be no staff resource in place to co-ordinate." But Mrs Matthews said that thanks to some judicious management of the staffing budget and the funds committed to the business plan there would be a predicted underspend of around £23,500 by the beginning of June. And she said the MDT wanted to use the cash to extend the project for a further six months while the outcome of the funding bids was awaited. MDT board member and Mr Hooper's supervisor Bernard Maynard-Smith highlighted the achievements of the project and said it had been almost entirely successful, putting the town years ahead in terms of regeneration. "Minehead is a town that does know where it is going," said Mr Maynard-Smith. He said with the end of the first phase of the project, it was clear that significant benefits could be achieved if a second phase could be delivered. Cllr Richard Lillis said although there had been some initial negativity over Mr Hooper's appointment he had proved his worth - even to some of his most fierce critics. "Stephen has proved that the projects are really important to Minehead and what is important is that Minehead people now realise that." Cllr Peter Murphy endorsed the comments, declaring that if Minehead "got it right" it was good for the whole of West Somerset. "The more Minehead has to offer the more West Somerset prospers," he said.