THE team behind the project to convert Minehead's Old Hospital into a Community Hub is on track and making good progress.

Following the acquisition of the site by Bill Howard and the public consultation which followed, the Minehead Connect Community Interest Company was set up in December 2016 to drive the project forward.

This CIC is now under the directorship of former West Somerset councillor Brian Leaker, the chairman of Minehead Chamber of Commerce Alex de Mendoza and Minehead town councillor Andy Kingston-James.

Minehead Connect volunteer Bill Griffiths said: "Following the formation of the CIC, work is now underway to create a project steering group drawn from the community.

"The vision of Minehead Connect is for the Old Hospital to become the focal point for the community, bringing people together and providing a platform to enhance quality of life and social enjoyment."

The plan is that the whole of the main building at the front of the site and all of the ground floor areas behind will be used for community purposes, with the main building being restored to its original Assembly Room format and safeguarded in the process.

The aim is that it will accommodate all manner of community services and activities from family events such as weddings and birthdays to conference and exhibition centre and for dance/drama/exercise and music groups.

The scheme is included in West Somerset Council's local economic development plan and the project received planning and listed building approval in September 2016.

In the meantime major repair works have already been carried out to remove damp and dry rot from for instance the Exmoor Ward area.

Minehead Connect say the next steps include renewed community consultation with a wider reach and more detail, development of an overall strategy for capital funding, and refine financial viability studies and business plans to ensure sustainability.

Applications will also be submitted to West Somerset Council for the initial Section 106 funds to kick start the construction project by enabling the rear areas of the site to be brought back into community use.

Mr Griffiths said: "Initial estimated costing for the total scheme of works is calculated at £2.1 million and discussions with funding groups such as Architectural Heritage Fund are already well underway."

For more information visit mineheadconnect.co.uk or the Minehead Connect Facebook page.