MINEHEAD will have two new weekly street markets from the last week of July in an effort to bring shoppers back into the centre of the town, Minehead Chamber of Commerce chairman Alex de Mendoza said this week.

The markets, on Wellington Square and the old hospital forecourt, will operate on Thursdays and Saturdays for a trial period, while the current farmers’ market on Fridays will continue in the Parade.

“We have had success in attracting more market activity into the town in time for the opening of the new Lidl store,” Mr de Mendoza said.

“This should enhance Minehead as regional shopping destination and perhaps revert it back to being a proper market town as it once was.

“With the support of of the vicar, the Rev Simon Robinson, and Wetherspoons, I have obtained planning permission to reverse the current no-usage of the Wellington Square clause into one that that supports usage. This is a great turnaround.”

Joint owner of the old hospital, Bill Howard, welcomed the two new markets.

“I think it’s a great idea,” he said. “Anything that attracts visitors and residents to this end of town must be a plus.”

Mr de Mendoza said he had also had meetings with county council parking chiefs and hoped to rationalise single yellow lines in side-streets “with the aim of seeing if we can increase the provision of free on-street parking.

“I am hoping we can lose many metres of unnecessary single yellows to allow shoppers to stop in town, do business, and shop . . . and spend money!

“We also discussed providing shoppers with two hours’ free parking rather than the current one. This I am also hopeful of achieving.”