SPECIAL legal agreements could be put in place before almost 2,000 acres of designated outstanding natural beauty (AONB) land on the Quantock Hills are sold off.

Somerset County Council's proposal has already sparked widespread opposition and last week the authority conceded additional covenants could be put on the land before it is disposed.

Just one man - county council cabinet Cllr David Huxtable - will take the decision on whether to go ahead with the controversial plans to sell Great Wood and Custom Common near Over Stowey and Thorncombe Hill near Bicknoller.

As a cabinet member he has authority to make sole "key decisions" and the land sale has been earmarked as one of those decisions.

The sell-off proposal was originally revealed shortly before Christmas, but sparked such controversy opponents gathered a 3,500 signature against the plans and led a protest on County Hall in Taunton.

Now the county has revealed the uproar resulted in an "informal meeting of cross-party councillors", who are recommending additional protection is levied on the area, in addition to its existing AONB and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) status.

Cabinet member Cllr David Huxtable said: "The land is much valued by the county council and by the public.

"It is protected as it as an AONB - and I stress that it is currently, and will remain the future, fully protected and open to public access.

"However, we are reviewing all our land and property to see where we can make savings and generate income.

"There are tight financial times and we are looking to invest to save where we can."

The sell-off is aimed at generating income for the cash-strapped authority and also reducing its liabilities.

But opponents, who include the Friends of the Quantocks and the Campaign to Protect Rural England, claim it will bring only short-term financial gain and in the long-term could put at risk the protection and access to the countryside.

A decision on the sale will be made by Cllr Huxtable on Monday (February 13).