PLANS to improve the management of an internationally important conservation area on the outskirts of Minehead have sparked a war of words over its future.

Conservation experts fear that around 100 acres of lowland heath, a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest and one of just a handful of similar areas in Europe, is in danger of losing its importance from encroaching pine, birch and other species.

But a proposal by Natural England and the Butterfly Conservation Trust to put up a 14-kilometre fence to enclose an area from Grabbist in Dunster - claimed to have been the inspiration for the hymn All Things Bright and Beautiful - to Wootton Courtenay to allow it to be grazed has divided opinion.

The fencing is one of a number of options being put to the six landowners involved, including Minehead Town Council, which owns Alcombe Common.

But Minehead Mayor Cllr Simon Stokes said this week he would oppose any move to fence the area.

He said that as the town council's land was designated as an 'urban common', Secretary of State approval would have to be granted before a single fence post could be sunk.

Cllr Stokes attended a meeting of the majority of landowners and conservationists in Dunster a fortnight ago, at which he believed the fencing proposal had been "taken off the table".

But Mike Pearce, Natural England conservation advisor for the Somerset West area, and Dr Nigel Bourne of the Butterfly Conservation Trust told the Free Press that was not the case and it was still an option.

The landowners include the National Trust, the Crown Estate, Forestry Commission and two private individuals.

Mr Pearce said the fencing would not affect public access and the area would remain open for people to enjoy.

But there was a need to improve the habitat, which was rare and supported the heath fritillary butterfly, the nightjar and Dartford warbler.

However, he said the fencing was nothing more than a proposal at this stage and any scheme was in its infancy.

"This would involve three years of public consultation. Nobody is going to go in and just fence off the area," said Mr Pearce.

"This is about land management. At the moment there is a certain amount of burning and cutting back taking place but it is only grazed by deer.

"We are not talking about heavy grazing but a mixture of possibly Exmoor ponies, sheep and cattle."

Dr Bourne, who chaired the recent meeting in Dunster, said it had been agreed to reconsider alternatives to the permanent fencing, including temporary fencing, employing shepherds, increasing the burning and cutting regime or bringing in a mechanical flail.

"The area needs to be grazed and to graze, you have to fence. This is a very important site, a very special area but it is in an unfavourable condition at the moment and in danger of losing its importance."

Dr Bourne said all the landowners agreed that something needed to be done.

"However, if there is absolute opposition to the idea of fencing and it becomes clear that the vast majority of people in Minehead do not want this, we would obviously be mad to go ahead with it."

Dr Bourne said it had been agreed to give a presentation to the town council in February about the problems and possible solutions.

"We are talking about a partnership with all the landowners involved. This is an exciting project which could potentially generate about £500,000 for the local economy - for local contractors and graziers - if the fencing option goes ahead.

"The fencing is most definitely still on the table but it would involve a huge consultation and is not something that is going to happen in the near future."

Cllr Stokes insisted that he believed there was "little enthusiasm" from the landowners present at the recent meeting for permanent fencing.

"As far as I'm concerned, this is going nowhere. I will certainly continue to oppose it and the town council's approval would only be forthcoming if the majority of councillors agreed.

"Whilst I cannot speak for the council as a whole, I would be amazed if even one member would be prepared to contemplate the fencing of our common.

"As far as I am concerned, there is one species whose enjoyment of this area is paramount and that is homo sapiens.

"I would not agree to any restrictions that detract from the public's enjoyment of this fantastic landscape."

West Somerset's MP Ian Liddell-Grainger said the fencing option was entirely unacceptable and claimed there had been a "systematic attempt" by Natural England over a number of years to fence the area.

"This land has been managed perfectly well by the town council and the Exmoor National Park Authority - nobody has ever said it has not been managed and the butterflies are doing very nicely."

Mr Liddell-Grainger described the fencing proposal as " a step too far" and said he would be taking the issue up with Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Hilary Benn.

"This is just a mess," he said.

But Mr Liddell-Grainger was criticised by Dr Bourne for failing to find out or understand the full facts surrounding the proposals, while Natural England said it was disappointed that the MP had failed to respond to invitations to meet officers to discuss the issues.

And in a veiled attack on Mr Liddell-Grainger, Cllr Stokes said he believed the fencing proposal had been "stirred up" in the run-up to a General Election.