A COUNCILLOR can keep six caravans on a vulnerable section of coastline following a decision by fellow councillors, writes Daniel Mumby.

Cllr Marcus Kravis applied to planners at Somerset West and Taunton Council for retrospective permission to retain the static caravans on land to the former Blue Anchor Hotel.

Councillors agreed to allow the caravans to stay so long as they are removed within five years due to rapid coastal erosion.

Mr Kravis first installed caravans at the site in 2018, before he was elected to the council, and there are currently five static vans there, with space for one more.

Cllr Ian Duncan, chairman of Old Cleeve Parish Council, told the committee: “The site is in a highly prominent location between the cliff edge and the B3191.

“The cliff is unstable and is gradually being lost to the sea. The adjacent hotel had to close for a period due to the potential collapse of the cliff.

“We appreciate that some temporary rock armour works have been taking place to help the situation, but it hasn’t solved the problem. There should be no development between the road and the cliff edge.

“We’d like the committee to consider whether, if this wasn’t a retrospective application, you would actually recommend it for approval. We suspect the answer may be no.”

The council carried out emergency repairs to the sea defences at Blue Anchor in late-2020 to prevent the pub and the B3191 from falling into the sea.

Work on a more permanent scheme to protect the road and nearby properties will begin this summer at a cost of £4million.

SWT Cllr Gwilym Wren said he had “significant difficulty” with the plans.

He added: “A wall fell down at the weekend within about 50 yards of this development. There is sea defence work going on, but the next fissures in the cliff are already forming, and they may well be under the hotel.”

Cllr Loretta Whetlor said: “Further down the road in Watchet, we’ve just lost half of our council allotments – it’s the same cliff, the same coastline.

“We had the same problem with the West Bay Caravan Park, where people spent their life’s savings buying these beautiful homes – and one of them had to be lifted off because the cliff had gone. They woke up in the morning and their garden was down on the coast.”

The committee was tied five votes to five on the decision, before chairman Cllr Simon Coles used his casting vote to approve the plans.

After the meeting Cllr Kravis said: "There are many reasons why planning applications are retrospective, but anyone who knows the history of the Blue Anchor knows what a difficult and unique position we are in.

“When we suddenly had to close the pub and the hotel rooms because of inaction by the former West Somerset Council meant we could not invest any more. They seemed prepared to just let us fall in the sea and this has all been well-documented.

“The land covered by the application is stable and once the sea defence works to protect the road are finished will be there for a very long time.

“It was only once the temporary works had been completed and the rest of the works planned that we were confident enough to re-open the pub and I felt able to put in an application for the caravans.

“This is just the first phase of our plans at Anchor’s Drop. Once the sea defence works are completed, we aim to create something quite special in the way of visitor accommodation and facilities in Blue Anchor, but in the meantime, we will concentrate on providing the fabulous accommodation that we do and carry on investing in the property.”