CIVIC leaders in Williton are to lobby businesses and parish and town councils in West Somerset to back their campaign to stop the district council moving to Minehead.

Williton councillors claim the controversial decision was "underhand", with lack of consultation, and the rushed nature of it has left the parish authority reeling.

They also feel side-lined because Williton's district councillors had not been a part of the crucial decision-making - newsagent Hugh Davies declared a pecuniary interest and Jean Tillotson was absent through illness.

Parish council members met this week and united in their bid to block the relocation on the grounds that it would break the economic backbone of the village.

They strongly refuted claims by district council chiefs that they had been consulted in any shape or form, saying the decision had been "steamrollered" through.

It was agreed that a forum similar to the Watchet Regeneration Partnership should be set up to fully investigate the options.

The parish felt the forum should include parish, district and county councillors as well as Bridgwater and West Somerset MP Ian Liddell-Grainger.

Letters will be sent out to businesses and other town and parish councils to gauge their views.

At the parish council meeting, it was pointed out that several district councillors were missing when the decision to move was taken, and it was felt that many of those who were present should not have spoken or voted as they were business people in and around Minehead.

Only recently, parish chairman Cllr Ian Aldridge and Cllr Robin Venner had face-to-face talks with district council leader Cllr Steven Pugsley, deputy leader Cllr Colin Hill and assistant chief executive Rod Latham.

Cllr Aldridge said that there was a "very blunt exchange of views" during the hour-long meeting. It was clear, he said, that the district authority had made its decision and wanted to plough ahead with the move.

Cllr Venner said: "I am just amazed at the way this has come about because for years the district council has been talking about moving to the [Williton] Workhouse.

"At the meeting I attended with Cllr Aldridge, it seemed like the district council were handing out bags of sweets to nodding boys and telling us to go away and not be a nuisance.

"But we have got to be a nuisance on this and I feel we must get our MP on board and show him the problems we have got - that is the only way we are going to stop it."

Cllr Aldridge said the parish council had not stood still since news of the move was released and would continue to keep up the pressure on the district council.

"The council is the largest employer in Williton - if in Port Talbot you said you were going to take the steel works away what would the opinion be?

"We as the parish council are a cross section of Williton and show the weight of feeling when we say it has been steamrollered through in a secretive way."

On the subject of Cllr Davies declaring an interest, Cllr Aldridge said: "Cllr Davies did not have to declare an interest, it is up to individual councillors whether they do or not.

"But because he said he was representing the business community, and he is a business person himself, he basically shot himself in the foot.

"I think he was trying to speak honestly and an opportunity arose for him to be silenced."

Cllr Aldridge and Cllr Venner also sat down for a two and a half hour meeting with Williton's re-formed Chamber of Trade with both sides agreeing they were vehemently against the plans.

Chamber of Trade chairman Chris Warren said that all 17 members were strongly opposed to the offices being moved to Minehead.

"We had a meeting ten days ago and we are adamant that we do not want the move and the setting up of the forum is a good idea because the more people that get involved the better.

"We have not spoken the the district council but we will be writing to them to oppose this."

District council chief executive Tim Howes said he had not received a single letter objecting to the move to Minehead: "The economic impact of the council leaving Williton will be minimal - about £1,000 a week spread between up to ten businesses.

"The district council has been in Williton for 27 years and there will certainly be life here without the council.

"It should be looked upon as an opportunity to redevelop the heart of the village. This is a prime site and better use can be made of it than simply new council offices.

"A mixture of retail, commercial, housing and community facilities are all very possible and we will be investigating the potential funding source for this."

Mr Howes said that during a members' seminar in November 2000, five potential solutions were examined in detail by councillors. The top two options to come out of the meeting were to construct a new building in either Williton or Minehead.

He added: "These were the options then given to an independent consultant who examined them further, concluding fairly swiftly that Minehead was the best place to serve the majority of the population of West Somerset.

"I have, in fact, received a number of positive letters from local people regarding the move to Minehead whilst no-one has written to me with any negative thoughts.

"This really is the right move in order to benefit the majority of the West Somerset population. It is also a great commercial opportunity for Williton and I would be more than happy to answer any letters from local residents on the subject."