Residents in Wembdon near Bridgwater, have a fight on their hands to save their local pub.

Plans are afoot by the owners to close the Cottage Inn but an action group has been formed to prevent the hostelry from being redeveloped.

Following a public meeting organised by the parish council and the campaign group earlier this month at the parish centre it was decided to try to retain the business as a pub rather than see it close. The Parish Council successfully applied for an Assets of Community Value (ACV) from Sedgemoor District Council in order to give a stay of execution on the property.

An ACV communities six months to put together a bid to buy a listed community asset and gives them a fighting chance to save a building deemed of community value. However the legislation does not give a right to buy the property in question - but it does give potential bidders the time to put a proposal together.

At the meeting where more than 50 residents turned up it was decided after a discussion, they would give a show of support for the recently installed new managers. It was also agreed to form a small committee of supporters to investigate the way forward and ensure that Wembdon retains its only pub. Under the leadership of Jeff Davey this group will look at ways to promote and protect the pub from any future change of use. This group will then report back to the village at the end of November.