MINEHEAD has been singled out for the distinctiveness and individuality of its high street shops in a UK study revealing that Britain is becoming a nation of 'clone' towns. The research, published this week by the renowned think-tank the New Economics Foundation, discovered that 42 per cent of towns surveyed had been taken over by a "monochrome of global and national chains" and could easily be mistaken for dozens of bland town centres across the country. Minehead, in contrast, was among 33 per cent of the 103 towns and cities surveyed branded a 'home' town, with a high street that had retained its individual character and was instantly recognisable and distinctive to the people who live there, as well as those who visit. The study condemned Exeter as the worst example of a clone town, whilst Somerset's county town of Taunton fell into the 'border' category - on the cusp between the two and at risk of being drained of local character. Judged on the existence of independently owned shops and its resistance to domination by chain stores, Minehead scored a healthy 39.6 in the study, compared to Exeter's 6.9 per cent. The NEF's findings strengthen the campaign waged by opponents of West Somerset District Council's plans to turn Minehead's Vulcan Road car park into an edge-of-town shopping complex. Details unveiled by the four shortlisted developers at a recent exhibition in the town left little doubt that the site would be filled with national and multinational companies, ranging from supermarket giant Asda to DIY stores Focus and Homebase, along with chain restaurants and 'soft goods' outlets. But the council's ruling cabinet was given a stark warning of the dangers of ignoring the NEF's findings at its meeting on Monday night. Jessica Griffith, of the action group DIRECT, told councillors that if the views of the community, the livelihoods of local residents, the future of tourism and the failings of consultants Donaldsons - who produced a flawed report on the need for more retail outlets - had no impact on them, then perhaps the findings of an independent think-tank would. She said the NEF findings demonstrated: l How large out-of-town stores had driven people from the high streets and forced local independent traders out of business in favour of uniform multiple retailers. l How retail spaces - once filled with a thriving mix of independent butchers, newsagents, pubs, bookshops, grocers and family owned general stores - were being replaced with faceless supermarket retailers, fast-food chains and global fashion outlets. "These towns may have a Dorothy Perkins or a Topshop but the study found that overall they hosted a smaller range of shops, meaning less choice, less diversity and fewer services for the community," said Ms Griffith. "Happily, in the sea of British clone towns some islands of distinctiveness remain where local economies and communities flourish and Minehead falls into that category. "Here we have an internationally renowned and independent economic think-tank praising towns like our for their vibrancy and vitality and urging us to keep things that way, rather than follow the path of so many other towns to become bland and clone-like." Ms Griffith said the NEF recognised that sustainable local shops and producers were the key to the economic well-being of an area, while national chains and supermarket giants simply transported wealth out of areas and into corporate pockets. "We should be proud of what we have and work to enhance it in an innovative and sustainable way rather than ruining it with get-rich-quick schemes. "Hopefully, some of the ideas in this report will inspire councillors to think outside the box for ways they can best help and promote a better future for West Somerset." The NEF report suggests a number of solutions to reverse the current clone town trend and calls for action to: l Use planning law to promote opportunity for locally owned stores, extending the negotiations between planners and developers to make retail developers guarantee affordable premises for local outlets. l Introduce a retail take-over moratorium preventing further take-overs of existing chains by Tesco or any of the other three large multiple retailers in the supermarket and convenience store sector. l Apply a limit of eight per cent market share, with the four leading supermarkets being asked to divest their interests above that threshold. l Make complaints to the Office of Fair Trading confidential and set up an independent and confidential watchdog to allow suppliers - particularly of supermarkets - to complain in confidence. NEF policy director Andrew Simms said: "Clone stores have a triple whammy on communities - they bleed the local economy of money, destroy the social glue provided by real local shops that holds communities together and they steal the identity of our towns and cities. "The argument that big retail is good because it provides consumers with choice is ironic because in the end it leaves us with no choice at all."