BUSINESS leaders in Minehead have withdrawn plans to close off part of the town's seafront to traffic to stage fortnightly car boot sales.

But the Minehead Tourism and Business Association, which is behind the controversial proposal, said the move was only temporary to allow it to consult more fully with the community and allay any concerns.

As reported in last week's Free Press, the group's application for a street trading licence was due to have been decided by a West Somerset Council licensing panel yesterday (Thursday).

But this week MTBA chairman Stephen Grice said the application had been withdrawn, while a bid to seek Somerset County Council approval to close a 338-metre stretch of The Esplanade to traffic from The Avenue/Warren Road junction to the Blenheim Road junction had been deferred.

The proposal to hold the fortnightly car boot sales on alternate Sundays from August 18 to January 19 next year was to have been the forerunner of a range of activities and events designed to attract more visitors to the town.

But Mr Grice said there had been a number of objections, mainly from people living nearby, while the police and fire service had also raised concerns.

"We have already carried out some consultation locally but we intend to do a lot more," said Mr Grice.

"We are planning to 'door knock' and leaflet people to ensure they really understand what we are trying to do."

Mr Grice said objectors appeared to believe that the scheme was purely a commercially venture.

"Nothing could be further from the truth," he said.

'We are a bit disappointed about some of the comments we have received in that respect.

"We are simply trying to bring a vibrancy back to that part of the town and encourage more visitors.

"Any surplus that is generated will be reinvested into other projects to benefit the town.

"Generations ago the seafront would have been a bustling, vibrant place and we just want to recreate that.

"We are not beaten but we want to get it right and we want to get the community on board."