BUSINESSES could get a welcome boost under plans to attract thousands of visitors to Minehead by holding a host of new entertainment events - including a February half-term ice-rink.

The ice-rink would be the star attraction at a new family winter festival, while plans are afoot for a spring festival and to continue the already popular summer festival, which is spearheaded by Butlins.

A new home design exhibition is also on the cards, while an existing walking festival, music events and fireworks extravaganza could all be expanded next year.

The ideas have been put forward by the Minehead Visioning Group, which includes representatives from the district council, Minehead Town Council, Somerset County Council and Minehead Chamber of Trade, as well as members of other key groups and organisations in the town.

The new entertainments programme would be run by the town's existing Minehead Events Group, with a start-up £20,000 cash pot of Government funding secured by the district council.

West Somerset Council's cabinet gave the proposals their full support when they met on Wednesday.

Cllr Kate Kravis, finance lead member, said: "This is really good news and a good amount of money for Minehead.

"I am pleased the visioning group is there and is able to get involved to make these recommendations.

"It is really satisfying to know there are people in Minehead who are involved in making these decisions for the people of Minehead."

Corinne Matthews, the council's economic regeneration manager, said the idea of the entertainments programme was to try and increase footfall in the town.

"It's been a difficult summer and many are expecting an extremely lean winter," Ms Matthews said.

Councillors were told some businesses had seen takings drop over the wet summer by as much as 30 per cent.

"An all year-round events programme will bring more people into Minehead.

"There has been talk of an ice-rink which would bring people into the town and raise money to go back into the pot.

"An all year-round fully co-ordinated events programme would encourage more visitors to the town and provide activities for them to participate in.

"There is also a desire to fully engage with the town's many voluntary and community organisations and businesses and work with them on this, thus helping to enhance the vitality and vibrancy of the town centre," Ms Matthews said.

Cllr Peter Murphy said it was "great" people were trying to encourage visitors in the quieter winter months as well as the summer.

"If people stay in Minehead they are likely to get on the train and visit other places as well," he said.

Council chairman Cllr Doug Ross was equally enthusiastic: "We do need to create more of a year-round attraction in Minehead and West Somerset as a whole.

"These events are good events and the best thing we can do as a small council with limited resources is to help regenerate Minehead as a shopping street by increasing the footfall."

He said he was "a little concerned" £20,000 would not be enough to get the festival programme off the ground and thought the projected income from the various events was "optimistic".

Minehead member Cllr Richard Lillis agreed and asked why Minehead Town Council was not financially contributing to the project.

"This is a great idea but I am worried £20,000 is a little bit too mean to hold the events they are looking at.

"The town council should get involved - it's very good with words and saying how wonderful things are, but not very good when it comes to putting its hands into its own pockets.

"We should get the town council to either match-fund or put some money in, after all, it is their town," Cllr Lillis said.

Cllr David Sanders, the lead member for economic regeneration, said Minehead Mayor Cllr Tony Berry had been very involved in the preliminary discussions for the new events programme and said the town council already had a £2,500 entertainment budget for Minehead.

But Cllr Lillis was unconvinced: "£2,500 when we are spending £20,000 is a poor effort."

Cllr Les Smith said he "took issue" with the suggestion Minehead Town Council supported the proposals: "The town council hasn't had the chance or otherwise as it hasn't been before the council."

But Cllr Kravis said the issue of town council funding was one for town and not district councillors.

"I know Minehead Town Council has places on the visioning group and the events group so there has been lots of town council involvement in this.

"How that is managed by the town council is down to them, as is funding.

"That is their business and that is there choice, although it would be very welcome if they did."