WEST Somerset residents have been given their first glimpse of how the district's new £26 million community hospital will look. Representatives from developers Rouke O'Lang and architects DK Architects were on hand to talk about the design for the new Minehead Hospital at an open evening at the West Somerset Community College on Monday. Among those who went along were Dunster couple Robert and Joan Nicholson. As a retired surgeon, Mr Nicholson was able to remember carrying out surgical operations in the existing Minehead Hospital building. Commenting on the design, his wife said: "I was originally concerned that the new hospital could be prone to flooding but have been reassured by the plans we have seen today. "The building looks very good. It is light and bright for patients and there is ample parking." The development forms part of the New Horizons 'healthplex' scheme off Seaward Way and a planning application for the hospital is being submitted to West Somerset Council. John and Valery Vickery of Minehead also went along to the open evening and said they were "very impressed" with the design. "It is going to be make a big difference with the hospital being purpose-designed. "The wards look particularly good, with more separate rooms and a much brighter environment than the old hospital," Mrs Vickery said. Simon Corrick, Somerset Primary Care Trust's (PCT) project director, thanked West Somerset residents for the interest they had shown in the scheme. He said: "We were pleased with the interest shown and everyone I spoke to had nothing but praise for the design and the development of a new hospital for the town and people of West Somerset. "A detailed planning application has been submitted to the council and we hope it will be approved and enable the development to proceed to plan." Construction on the new hospital is expected to start in early 2009. It is due to have 20 inpatient beds, diagnostic services and investigations, including radiology and pathology, clinical assessment facilities, day surgery, outpatient facilities and a drop-in treatment centre. There will also be a patient support centre, a mental health day unit and a minor injuries unit. The hospital has been designed to make use of the latest diagnostic technology and will combine rapid access to 'one-stop' medical services. As well as the hospital, plans were also on display of the new £5.5 million skills and enterprise centre being developed by the community college. Scheduled to be up and running from September, it will offer courses in vocational skills, including construction, motor vehicles, hospitality and catering, hair, beauty and health and social care.