BEACH huts and a pirate ship are two ideas which have been floated by North Somerset Council in a bid to make Weston's seafront more attractive

BEACH huts and a pirate ship are two ideas which have been floated by North Somerset Council in a bid to make Weston's seafront more attractive.The council's planning chief, Elfan Ap Rees, revealed the plans at a Town Hall meeting on Tuesday. He also announced that a contractor, Birse, has been asked to upgrade the promenade and the sea wall.The contract will go before a full council meeting next Tuesday for approval. The company is due to begin the first phase of a controversial seafront improvement programme in August. Alterations to Marine Lake will cost £3.4million and it will be closed to the public once work begins.The public area of Knightstone Island will be open from the end of this month. Cllr Ap Rees confirmed that seafront traders had been consulted, saying: "They were positive about the first phase when they saw what we have done with Marine Lake to enhance the tourism image along the seafront."From August we will be having meetings with seafront businesses."A visitor information centre will be opening near the Redrow Homes trailer on Knightstone Island so members of the public can follow progress. The scheme is being funded by Government grants and a £1.2million Civic Pride Award. The second phase of the project relates to the sea wall but designs have yet to be finalised. Work is scheduled to begin in late 2008, continuing into early 2009. Concessionaires will be invited by the council to develop ideas on a pirate ship and other forms of entertainment. Cllr Ap Rees added: "If there is anyone who wants to follow that through we would be interested."Beach huts are extremely likely but no decision has been taken on who will run them.