A COMMUNITY survey of Minehead residents has revealed mixed views about the town’s future.

The exercise was carried out by Minehead and Coast Development Trust (MCDT), which was set up to improve the town and the wider area for everybody ‘who calls it home, works here, or loves to visit’.

The charity asked people what they thought about Minehead’s future, what challenges the town faced, and what might make them feel better connected to the community.

About one-third of people responding thought the town had improved, but nearly 30 per cent disagreed, while nearly 40 per cent either did not have an opinion or had not lived in the area long enough to know.

A trust spokesperson said: “That tells its own story about how differently people experience this town.”

On the issue of whether the future of Minehead looked promising there was more optimism, as just under half, 48 per cent, felt positive about what lay ahead, while 32 per cent were less hopeful, and 20 per cent unsure.

The spokesperson said: “We are not going to put a gloss on results like these.

“The fact that so many residents have real concerns, or simply are not sure is important, and it is exactly the kind of honest feedback that helps us focus our work where it matters most.

“What we do know is this - a community willing to engage this openly, and care this much, is one worth investing in.

“And we are committed to doing just that.”

The survey will be used to evaluate MCDT’s work and will help ensure local voices continue to shape its work and future projects.

There were 214 responses during March and April, representing a broad range of ages, backgrounds, and lengths of residency in Minehead.

The spokesperson said: “One of the strongest messages to emerge was that people care deeply about Minehead.

“Many respondents said they feel proud to live here and highlighted the town’s strong sense of community, friendly atmosphere, and connection to the surrounding coast and countryside.

“This reflects what we see every day through our projects and partnerships.

“Across Minehead, there are countless people who volunteer their time, support local groups, organise events, look after community and open spaces, and contribute to making the town a better place to live.”

The spokesperson said people were equally clear about the challenges they believed needed attention.

The most consistently raised issues were the limited employment and educational opportunities, poor public transport and access to services, and a need for more activities and opportunities for young people.

When asked what would improve Minehead, 85 per cent identified ‘better local services and public transport’ as a priority, while 72 per cent highlighted employment and educational opportunities.

The spokesperson said: “These are significant challenges, many of which extend beyond the remit of any single organisation.

“However, understanding these concerns is an important first step in ensuring local priorities are reflected in future conversations, partnerships, and projects.”