A COMMUNITY transport scheme serving people across West Somerset has ended a five-year search for a new home.

ATWEST, which provides accessible transport for those unable to use public services, celebrated signing a deal with West Somerset Council for a 15-year lease of the Acorn site in Minehead's Brunel Way with a special sod-cutting ceremony.

Work is now underway to provide parking and an office on the land, which, when completed, will provide a single base for the charity's administrative hub and its fleet of vehicles.

ATWEST supporters, local councillors and funders gathered together for the ceremony, raised their glasses to the future and cut a special cake to mark the beginning of a new era for the charity.

ATWEST manager Brian Worrall said: "We are so pleased to be starting work here.

"The new office building will provide comfortable accommodation for the staff, a rest room for drivers and a meeting room for passenger groups or trustees."

The celebratory mood of those who have worked hard to get the new development off the ground was almost marred last month when the price of the office building due to be supplied by a Newbury-based company unexpectedly rose.

Project manager Barbara Middleton said: "A month ago we were delighted that the whole process of funding, lease, site works and building was all coming together at last after two years."

But the increase in the price of the building put a spanner in the works until an alternative option was put forward.

"We simply did not have enough money," said Mrs Middleton.

"But now we're hoping that a local firm will be able to supply the building, which will make the whole thing a very local project.

"It will be extremely energy efficient, using either carbon neutral or recycled materials wherever possible and will need very little heating."

The project has been funded by Futurebuilders England, Local Action for Rural Communities (LARC), the Leonard Laity Stoate Charitable Trust and Somerset County Council, coupled with the fundraising efforts of passengers.