A PETITION calling for help to stop The Blue Anchor Inn, and the coastline around there, from collapsing into the sea, has been rapidly clocking up signatures – while the owner of the historic building spent the festive season dumping soil, to try and buy some time.

The petition, Help Save Watchet and Blue Anchor, was started on Sunday morning and by Monday afternoon 1,203 people had signed it, calling on Somerset West and Taunton Council to “step up and do something” to help save Watchet, Blue Anchor and The Blue Anchor inn from collapsing into the sea.

Cara Strom, owner of the 17th century inn, said she did not know the people who started the petition on change.org, but she welcomed the move.

“They are looking at it as a whole. I would like the petition taken notice of, and for the authorities to get central government funding to fix the problem. I wake up each day not knowing if my building will slip.”

She spent five days over Christmas working with friends moving 300 tonnes of soil to try and protect the building, after heavy rain caused the nearby landslip to drop another 10ft.

“I’m very worried with the new slip, especially with the road as well up the coastline,” she said.

Cara expects to hear in February Somerset County Council’s decision on what can be done.

But she said she had to do something in the meantime: “We may not have until then, and I don’t want a sea defence option to be gone by the time they make the decision. I’m trying to buy time.”

And she added: “I have no more money to spend now on sea defence – I need some help,” she said.

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