THE first steps have been taken to regenerate the flagging fortunes of Minehead, through a scheme spearheaded by the South West of England Regional Development Agency.

As reported in the Free Press last September, Minehead has been chosen as one of only ten towns in the region to be given financial help in a pilot project aimed at boosting the economies of coastal and market towns.

Altogether, around £510,000 will be split among the towns over the next few years, with an initial sum of up to £50,000 allocated to Minehead to help get the initiative going.

The aim is to identify and tackle the town's main regeneration priorities, using a regional pool of expertise as well as the knowledge of local volunteers.

Already, West Somerset District Council officers and councillors, police officers, health authority staff and workers from the voluntary sector have met with people from the Minehead business community and other interested parties in the town.

The meeting was organised jointly by the development agency and the Government Office for the South West, South West Acre Network, the Housing Corporation and the Countryside Agency.

A district council spokesman said the authority was pleased to be taking part in the initiative, which should help Minehead plan for the future and build on existing strengths and skills.

Funding will be available for developing community projects, with the aim of attracting even more money from Europe in the years to come.

District council deputy leader Cllr Colin Hill said: "This is another positive step forward in the regeneration of the area."

A consultation document drawn up by the development agency when it first mooted plans for the project last year outlined many key factors affecting coastal towns throughout Britain.

These included loss of services, lack of affordable housing, poor employment opportunities, poor public transport and an exodus of young people.

The report stated: "Coastal towns are burdened with ageing infrastructure, a declining tourism market and often remote locations.

"The role of these places in the 21st century is therefore a key question in building sustainable communities.

"It is clear from past experience that regeneration is not a short term process. A challenge to the new programme is to design an approach that gives communities the skills and resources to play an active part in preparing and implementing their plans for the future."

While the initial funding is there to develop the feasibility of community projects and to get them to a funding stage, more cash will be forthcoming to get an initial action project off the ground to boost confidence locally.

Further funding will then be made available to ensure the community is able to sustain the regeneration process.

It is hoped specially trained regeneration workers will be based in Minehead to offer hands-on help and advice to people keen to develop projects, while a select group of residents will be trained as 'community agents' to work with people in the town.

The scheme could eventually be extended to other coastal and market towns throughout the region, depending on the success of the Minehead project.