REGENERATING empty shops, brightening up the centre and extra publicity for events are among ideas to restore Minehead to its former glory, according to traders in the town.

The calls come after West Somerset Council agreed to create a new town centre manager position charged with developing business and jobs in Minehead.

The £25,000 to £30,000-a-year role will be funded by cash from the Government’s Seaside Strategy Funding given to the council in 2009 for rejuvenating the town.

Whoever takes up the position will take ownership of regeneration, promotion of business and securing funding in a bid to boost Minehead’s economy.

Minehead Development Trust could appoint the successful candidate within the next few months and the County Gazette has canvassed businesses in the town for their views on what the priorities for the new person should be.

John Dawson, manager of Gerald David and Family butchers in Park Street, said: “It certainly does need someone like this.

“Tourism has slackened off a lot – you can tell by the number of people around Minehead. A lot of B&Bs are not full and they should be at this time of year.

“Whoever fills the role will need to brighten the place up, organise more events and publicise the ones we already have, better. Hardly anyone knows about the summer festival – it should have been trumpeted from the rooftops but I haven’t seen any leaflets or posters.

“We have a lovely harbour and sea front, nice shops but the empty ones need to be filled more quickly. The town needs someone who loves Minehead and who can get people excited.”

Lucy McIlroy, owner of Ladybird Crafts in Blenheim Road, said: “I think it’s a good idea but it’s going to have to be heavily regulated and controlled. It’s a brilliant idea and if it really brings Minehead back to what it was in its heyday, that will be great.

“I would like to see the landlords of the empty shops pay for the posters which have been put up recently.

“I think the independent businesses in the town need to be listened to more. We could do with more signs in the centre to direct visitors to shops off the main street. I would love to do it myself but we can’t afford it – takings are down by half on last year.”

Jane Redman, who works at Exmoor Printers in Tregonwell Road, said: “If one person was able to join up all the dots and have control over what is going on in the town, it would be a good thing.

“But it is only a good idea if that one person can benefit from the hard work that other people have already put in and bring it all together.

“A lot of effort has been put in by many people, there has been some tremendous work, and now it would be lovely to see someone who can square the circle.”

Chris Austin, the owner of Sunfield guest house in Summerland Avenue, said: “My concern is about where the money is going to come from for achieving things.

“The money for this person’s wages has come from the Government but none of the local councils have any money and without that, what can someone in this position do? If there is no money, there is no point in having a wish list for this town.

“I have been in business for about 30 years and I know that you have to be realistic.”

Kevin Prescott, manager of Webbers Estate Agents in Floyds Corner, said: “For people viewing houses in the town, it needs to look smart and to be somewhere they want to stay for them to buy here.

“If anyone comes through the town centre and sees empty shops it shows it is on the back foot and needs some improvement.

“Already the empty shops look better with the posters that have been put up recently but some have been empty for months and months and they need to be filled.

“Things need to be done more quickly, too – the old hospital project needs to be moved along sooner rather than later.

“If improvements were made to the town, something would also have to be done for the young people to deter the mindless vandalism that I see so often around the town.

“I think that whoever takes on the job will find it quite tough to please both the independent shops and the chains.

“It will be good if one person is in control of improving the town centre but there really should be a body doing that already.”