The Cheddar Vision Group will be receiving a share of £70,000 from the Hinkley Point C development, which will be spent on improving tourist attractions in the area up to 2023.

EDF Energy has agreed to provide funding to support businesses and public sector initiatives in the communities which are most affected by the construction of the new nuclear power station.

The funding – administered through Somerset West and Taunton Council – will go towards a number of different initiatives.

A report on how the funds will be distributed came before the council's executive committee for approval in Taunton on Tuesday evening (January 28).

A total of £685,000 is being made available for the current phase of the council's Hinkley Tourism Strategy, which runs from March 2020 for a three-year period.

Projects which will be funded partly or wholly by this money include:

The Steam Coast Trail: the existing cycle network will be extended to encourage more cycling and walking between Minehead and Williton. The current focus is on connecting Minehead to Dunster Beach and Blue Anchor, with £50,000 being made available.

Enterprising Minehead: various improvements will be made to Minehead's seafront promenade to enhance its appearance. Funding of up to £50,000 will be used to lay on new events and activities to encourage visitors to stay longer and "leave a legacy for west Somerset's flagship seaside resort".

Bridgwater Quayside Festival: Bridgwater has seen the largest impact of the Hinkley Point C construction, in the form of additional vehicle movements and housing developments. Funding from the construction will support the town council's push for greater tourism to support the struggling high street, and will help the Quayside Festival to become an annual fixture in the local calendar.

Burnham Evolution: this public-private partnership focuses on revitalising Burnham-on-Sea's seafront and the Princess Theatre so the town (and neighbouring Highbridge) can "increase its resilience as a year-round destination" for tourists.

The Cheddar Vision Group: Cheddar, which provides lots of the construction material for the Hinkley site, has an economy which relies on tourism but which is "too seasonal", resulting in little local opportunities for employment. More money will be invested in marketing the village and the neighbouring Mendip Hills to "attract a demographic who will generally dwell longer" and have more disposable income.

The three latter projects – which are all based in the neighbouring Sedgemoor district – will receive £70,000 between them.

Council leader Federica Smith-Roberts said: "This is a legacy that is being built from the largest construction project in Europe.

"Anything that is a long-term project for the area is good."