WORK is underway on two new major businesses set to have a massive effect on the Minehead economy.

Foundation work has begun on new 102 room Premier Inn and Brewers Fayre pub, and new supermarket Lidl is well under construction, both on Seaward Way in Minehead.

There are concerns over what impact Premier Inn will have on the many guesthouses, hotels and bed and breakfasts in the town and surrounding area, however the local Chamber of Commerce is optimistic that Lidl can have positive connotations for the high street.

Chairman of Minehead Chamber of Commerce Alex de Mendoza said: "Lidl could be part of a renaissance for Minehead but we only have one shot to get it right.

"I hope the arrival of Lidl will lead to people seeing Minehead as more a destination for shopping."

Mr de Mendoza said that because Lidl offers something different to Tesco or Morrisons that people in places like West Quantoxhead, Wiveliscombe and Lynton and Lynmouth may choose to shop in Minehead rather than Bridgwater, Taunton or Barnstaple.

"But once the shoppers come we need to do more to persuade them to stay and shop in Minehead, and we have three months to get our act together," Mr de Mendoza said.

The Chamber of Commerce is in talks about getting a community market up and running in Wellington Square in tandem with the Friday Farmer's Market.

"The hope is people can come into Minehead, do their big weekly shop, and then come to the market

to pick up quality items they cannot get from the supermarket," Mr de Mendoza added.

He says it should be possible to move the Farmers Market to Wellington Square, reducing congestion in the High Street on Fridays, and increasing footfall for businesses up towards Park Lane and along Friday Street.

"I have also been talking with Somerset County Council Highways about looking into the possibility of extending free parking in the High Street from one hour to two and reviewing the restrictive number of yellow lines," Mr de Mendoza said.

"These measures will encourage people to stop in the town, do some business and perhaps stay, do a bit of shopping and maybe get a cup of coffee rather than immediately worrying about rushing back to the car.

"Business in the High Street are struggling year on year and are fed up of just getting by, they may make good money in the summer but the rest of the year is a struggle.

"This opening of Lidl is a great opportunity to take the bull by the horns and make Minehead a strong shopping destination again."

Lidl have said the new supermarket, which is being built on the former Aquasplash site could provide up to 32 jobs for the town.

Premier Inn and its accompanying restaurant Brewers Fayre should provide a further 43 jobs for local people however Linda Hatch, chairman of Minehead Hospitality Association said the new hotel would have an impact on the guesthouses, hotels and bed and breakfasts in the town.

"Of course it will have some impact, it is something that is coming and we simply have to live with it," Mrs Hatch, who runs Sunfield B&B.

"I am hoping it will attract people staying for one night only and people staying for holidays more than one night will use the town’s many guest houses.

"In the local guesthouse industry we will just have to maintain our high standards and good service and people will come.

"Where we may lose business are weekends like the Somerset Stages last weekend, I can imagine many people who came down for that will use the Premier Inn."