TOWN councillors are looking at trying to boost Wellington’s economy by encouraging visitors to the nearby Blackdown Hills.

Cllr John Thorne said new ‘welcome to Wellington’ road signs which were being considered should be used to promote the town as a ‘Gateway to the Blackdowns AONB’.

Cllr Thorne said: “The Blackdowns is an area of outstanding natural beauty and lots of people want to visit and do things there.

“We should be promoting the fact that we are so close to the AONB that people can come and stay here and easily reach the hills for activities.

“We have to replace the road signs anyway so we are missing a trick here if we do not use this opportunity to brand the town as a ‘gateway’ and piggyback on the popularity of the Blackdowns.”

Town and district Cllr Chris Booth said Minehead promoted itself as the ‘Gateway to Exmoor’ and Lyme Regis similarly used the Jurassic Coast branding.

Councillors were told welcome signs were missing at Cades Farm and on Milverton Road, while the one at Pyles Thorne Road was felt to be outdated.

They agreed to delay a decision on the new road signs until September while they looked at adding ‘gateway’ branding.