SEASIDE resorts such as Minehead are missing out on thousands of pounds of grant aid each year, as well as having to battle annually with British weather and poor road access.

But it could still be years rather than months before the resort is given any firm financial helping hands from central Government, Europe and even the National Lottery.

During a whistlestop tour around Minehead yesterday (Thursday), Tourism Minister Janet Anderson acknowledged the problems facing the resort but warned that it would take time to resolve them.

She said the first step in that process was her fact-finding tour of Britain's seaside resorts, speaking to visitors and local people involved in the tourism industry, before reporting back to London.

Those findings will then be analysed and included in an action plan aimed at reviving the fortunes of British seaside resorts, which is due to be published at the end of this year.

Mrs Anderson said: "I cannot do my job properly sat behind a desk in Whitehall. I need to get out and speak to the tourism industry.

"Once we have the report, we have to decide how we are going to respond to it and how we are going to take it forward, but to do that we have to consult with the industry."

Initial plans of action included urging the National Lottery and its various subsidiary funds to change the way grants are allocated to be more in favour of coastal areas.

Other proposals include earmarking even more money for resorts through the Department of Transport and the Regions' single regeneration budget - already £72 million has been given to coastal areas and £96 million to seaside towns.

She is also looking at ways of reducing some of the 70 or more regulations currently imposed on the hotel and restaurant industries to try and make it easier for them to trade on a day-to-day basis.

She said: "Obviously all of these things will take time. This is purely a fact finding tour to see what we have been doing and to anticipate what we will be doing with funding."

She started her day in the town with a business breakfast at the Periton Park Country House Hotel and Restaurant with invited guests from the business community and regional and local government organisations.

They had the chance to put their ideas for Minehead's future directly to Mrs Anderson while tucking into local produce - tea and coffee from Porlock, bread from Williton, free range eggs from Crowcombe, bacon and sausages from Minehead and marmalade made at the hotel.

One of the guests, Minehead Chamber of Commerce chairman Mike Padgett, presented the Minister with a feasibility study into building a new pier at the seafront.

He said: "I told her it would be the first traditional pier to be erected in the British Isles in 90 years and it could be built in just 12 months for £5m to £6 million at the most.

"She seemed quite interested in the idea and also took on board other suggestions, such as offering more training to younger people and giving Government support to create year-round job opportunities."

From Periton Park it was on to a tour of the seafront and harbour, and to take a look at Minehead's £17 million sea defence wall and promenade.

West Somerset District Council tourism officer Tim King said the Government's support of the sea defence project was one of the main reasons Minehead had been included in the fact-finding tour.

He told the Free Press: "The sea defence system has made a huge difference to Minehead and I will certainly be making sure she takes a good look at it.

"The visit has certainly raised Minehead's profile and raised the issue of coastal resorts at Government level.

"A lot of resorts are in a more parlous state than we are - but although Minehead may look pretty on the surface, underneath we have got problems such as high unemployment and seasonal jobs."

Mrs Anderson said these problems were echoed in coastal areas throughout Britain, with one of the main bones of contention being access difficulties.

She said: "Everywhere we go there is a transport problem. Most seaside resorts have one road in and one road out.

"Our job at the department of Culture Media and Sport is to influence other Government departments so if there are any implications for the tourism industry they know what they are."

Mrs Anderson also took the chance to visit Butlins and meet manager Bryan Leaker, before dropping in on the West Somerset Railway to chat to managing director Mark Smith and chairman Dennis Taylor.

Mr Smith said the company was keen to keep enhancing and developing the railway as a tourist attraction and said Government support would be vital to achieve these aims.

Before meeting the Minister he said: "We hope she will enjoy her visit and we will be demonstrating to her the key role the railway will continue to play in developing the local economy."

From the railway Mrs Anderson headed into the town centre to visit the tourist information office and to present an English Tourism Council award to Brian Jackman of the Channel House Hotel.

The establishment was the only two star hotel in the seven counties which make up the South West region to be given a gold award for quality.

She then met Minehead Town Council chairman Meigan Lyons and town council clerk Mervyn Yendole before heading on to the Old Harbour House for lunch courtesy of the district council.

Speaking to the Free Press before meeting Mrs Anderson, Mrs Lyons said she would do all she could to make the Minister aware of Minehead's successes and problems.

She said: "We do need any help we can get from Government and Europe as tourism is the only industry we have, especially as we still don't know what is going to happen with Butlins yet.

"I shall do my best for Minehead and will be pushing for as much as I can."

Mrs Anderson has already promised that the English Tourism Council will carry out an investigation to find out exactly what English holidaymakers want from the UK seaside.

She is also hoping to find extra Government resources to encourage tourism providers to diversify and to make the most of e-tourism through the internet.

Mrs Anderson added: "Competition within the UK and abroad is growing and the expectations of tourists are changing, especially as the internet opens up a new world of information and services to tourists.

"Resorts must offer choice, quality and an understanding of the changing needs of tourists if Britain's seaside towns are to go from strength to strength in the future."

She rounded off her trip to the region with a tour around the Exmoor National Park Visitor Centre, in Dunster, where she met park staff before heading for Newquay, the last port of call on her fact-finding mission.