MINEHEAD has a number of projects working to help the town look more attractive and keep the traditions of the seaside town alive in the 21st century.

There are plans to bring back traditional deck chairs for hire for the beach, refurbish seafront shelters, while new bunting has been added in the town centre and work on new play areas and planting along the seafront has been completed.

The project to bring back the deckchairs is a collaborative project between the Minehead Coastal Community Team, Somerset West and Taunton Council and the new tenant of the Jubilee Cafe, meanwhile bringing back the bunting has been spearheaded by Minehead BID.

It is hoped having deck chairs for hire and refurbishing shelters along the Esplanade will bring a traditional feel back to Minehead beach and Esplanade.

The deck chair concession enabled by the Coastal Community Fund will be piloted this summer holiday season. 

The traditional and colourful deck chairs will be found on the beach between 10am and 5pm, and can be hired from the newly converted seafront shelter situated next to the Jubilee Café.

Melanie Rose-Gale who took over the Jubilee Café last year, is co-ordinating the deck chair concessions. She said: “It’s an exciting time for the Jubilee Café with the Minehead Coastal Community Team leading the excellent enhancement of the seafront. 

“We are able to do our bit, by replanting the gardens, rejuvenating the crazy golf course, refurbishing the Café and extending the facilities, whilst maintaining that charm that such a unique position demands.”

Later this year the Jubilee Cafe is looking to add more facilities including additional toilets that will be available for public use, and a customer friendly outdoor seating area.
Melanie together with other local people will also be organising seafront events including community dog walks and Tai-Chi on the beach. 

Meanwhile the Minehead BID team have been busy following up its recent introduction of extra flower baskets with another initiative to brighten shopping streets in the town. 

Bunting was once a popular sight in the summer and Minehead BID wanted to trial it again.

Somerset County Gazette:

Minehead BID manager Andrew Hopkins negotiated the help from Somerset West and Taunton Council which used a platform vehicle to replace old hooks used when bunting was last installed a decade ago.

Minehead Town Councillors and Somerset West and Taunton Councillors Paul Bolton, Craig Palmer and Terry Venner, and Minehead Town Councillor Mimi Palmer assisted with putting the bunting in place.

Graham Sizer, chairman of the Minehead BID, said: "The initial response from shopkeepers and the Somerset and West Taunton Council's offer helped enormously. 

"Platform operators Steve Brown and Josh Pukis were brilliant. They worked with us well into the night to install the new hooks. 

"We are also indebted to Cllrs Venner, Craig and Mimi Palmer and Paul Boulton who, on the night of the actual install turned up unexpectedly in hi viz jackets to help lift the bunting over passing and parked vehicles. 

"It was a wonderful joint effort, the sort of thing normally the preserve of village carnival organisers."

Cllr Marcus Kravis, executive member for economic development at Somerset West and Taunton Council said: “This was a great example of how the whole community can work together for the greater good. 

"The bunting will bring a splash of colour to Minehead during the busy summer season and shows that people really care about their town. 

"SWT is proud that it was able to support this initiative and demonstrate its commitment to the Minehead BID.”