AN innovative scheme designed to revitalise Minehead town centre has received a £6,000 boost to help the economy and enhance the vitality of the main shopping area.

West Somerset Council has joined forces with Minehead Chamber of Trade under the working title 'Love Minehead' to push ahead with a new 'Shop Local' scheme and to extend an existing project which transforms vacant shop windows with information displays and posters.

While the chamber has put forward £2,500 towards the cost, the district council has used planning obligation money to swell the funding pot with an additional £3,500.

Corinne Matthews, the council's economic regeneration manager, said the Love Minehead banner would encompass a range of Minehead-based groups and organisations, all working for the good of the town.

However, the Shop Local initiative could be extended to include a loyalty card scheme in both Watchet and Williton, as well as in Minehead.

At last Wednesday's cabinet meeting, councillors were told the Love Minehead group was separate from the similarly named http://www.loveminehead.com">www.loveminehead.com internet-based organisation set up by local guest house owner Stephen Grice.

Ian Timms, the council's economic manager, said that although the council would be holding the purse strings of Love Minehead, the group would be a working collaboration involving other organisations and bodies.

He said the start-up funding pot would help to launch a loyalty card Shop Local scheme in Minehead to help keep locally earned money in the district and to cover the cost of displays and posters which could be reused in different vacant shop windows as and when they were needed.

The idea of posters and information boards was first trailed by Minehead Chamber of Trade and Minehead Town Council last year.

During the summer, the former Blockbuster video store was kitted out with vintage-style poster featuring Minehead and North Hill, while the vacant Threshers store became a focus for ongoing plans to convert the town's old hospital into a community hub.

At the time, Graham Sizer, chairman of Minehead Chamber of Trade, said he was hopeful the posters would send a vibrant, upbeat message to both residents and visitors alike, replacing featureless empty shop windows with thought-provoking artwork and information.

Mr Timms told district council cabinet members the "lasting window dressing displays" helped to address the negative impact empty shop fronts could have on the town.

"It was felt both these schemes . . . would improve the viability and vitality of Minehead town centre," Mr Timms said.