THREE exciting projects that will help inject new life into West Somerset’s coastal heritage have won more than £90,000 from the Government.

The schemes were among the 77 successful projects in bidding for awards from the £3 million Coastal Revival Fund, set up to help communities bring buildings and assets which have suffered years of disrepair back into use.

“This is fantastic news for West Somerset,” said Cllr Karen Mills, who holds the economic regeneration portfolio. “The area has been really successful in winning funding and I would like to congratulate everyone involved.

“We are fortunate to have some very creative and energetic partners who are working so hard with us on behalf of West Somerset.”

Minehead's Enterprising Esplanade has won £20,000 for its waterfront initiative. The project will refurbish existing Edwardian buildings, create new trading posts and visitor attractions, and improve links to the South West coast path.

West Somerset District Council say the scheme envisages Minehead’s sea front being transformed from an uninspiring expanse of sea defence concrete and wind-swept open spaces to an exciting destination full of family fun, and enterprising trading opportunities, heralding the renaissance of its Edwardian hey-day.

The aim of the project is to attract more visitors to Minehead, by providing a much improved visitor experience. The council say that being able to significantly enhance the sea front will engender far greater community pride, and provide many more opportunities for enterprising business start-ups as well as increased trade for existing businesses.

In Watchet, the Onion Collective has been successful in winning the maximum grant available - £50,000 – to create a rope walk pathway leading from the Boat Museum building, alongside the West Somerset Railway towards the East Quay harbourside area and Splash Point to refurbished Victorian Pleasure Gardens.

“A footpath will be created from the new Boat Museum Visitor Centre extension along the side of the railway track to the Goviers Lane crossing. This will give a really easy access along to the new Visitor Centre for people coming from the railway and will include viewing areas for the trains and interpretation panels.

“Work is due to start on the Boat Museum in early Jan and the footpath won’t be far behind, with both hopefully being ready in May 2016,” said Naomi Griffith, director with the Onion Collective.

The Friends of the Steam Coast Trail have won £24,000 from the Coastal Revival Fund to help to create a safe network of multi-user paths in and around the West Somerset coastline. The Coastal Revival Fund would provide feasibility studies into studies into extending the network into Minehead, and how to encourage cyclists around Watchet.”

The project has won widespread support from the local community and will provide a real boost for tourism as people will be able to enjoy the area’s wonderful coast without having to negotiate busy main roads.