CAMPAIGNERS fighting for the removal of a stretch of urban-style paving in historic Dunster appear to have won their battle.

Somerset County Council sparked widespread fury earlier this year when it replaced ancient cobbles in West Street with blue lias slabs as part of a £400,000 highways improvement scheme.

Now, after a groundswell of opposition locally and criticism from heavyweight organisations including English Heritage, the Campaign to Protect Rural England and the Exmoor Society, the controversial scheme looks set to be replaced.

Following a meeting on Wednesday, a recommendation has been made to county council cabinet member for highways and transport Cllr David Fothergill that the blue lias slabs should be replaced with a scheme which mirrors – as much as possible – the one carried out in High Street more than four years ago.

Although some cobbles were removed in the High Street work, some were retained, while the walkway was paved with Brecon grey stone, rather then the unpopular blue lias.

The final decision to replace the West Street slabs is expected to be made by Cllr Fothergill within the next few weeks.

In a statement yesterday (Thursday), a county council spokesman said the work in West Street had been undertaken at the request of Dunster Parish Council and fulfilled the main objective of making it safer and more accessible.

"However, the views of the local community and dislike for the materials have been recognised in this recommendation," said the spokesman.

"We will salvage as much of the blue lias paving and kerbing as possible to use elsewhere."

The spokesman said consideration had been given to the installation of an additional cobbled gully which had been asked for as an extension to the existing West Street scheme but this was unlikely to be taken forward for a number of reasons.

County council chairman Cllr Christine Lawrence, who represents Dunster, said the recommendation was the first step in resolving the issue.

"Obviously the new design has to be worked up and it has to be financially viable and be safe because that was the main reason the initial work was carried out," she said.

"We have been trying to respond to people's concerns and we understood that many people were unhappy with the blue lias.

"We need a scheme that looks right, is safe and appropriate.

"Happily, I think we are now travelling in the right direction."

Cllr Bryan Leaker, who represents Dunster on West Somerset Council and helped form the Dunster Conservation Group which was at the forefront of local opposition, said he was delighted.

"We are really pleased for the residents of Dunster and the conservation group is proud of the role it played in getting to this stage.

"We will now await Cllr Fothergill's confirmation that the blue lias slabs will be replaced."