A FIRE at a Highbridge beauty spot which was so severe it closed one lane of a nearby motorway could have been prevented if the council cut the grass, a resident has claimed.

Four fire engines and two specialist vehicles were sent to Lakeside, in Highbridge, at 2.15pm on Friday, July, 19 after the fire service received more than 80 calls about the blaze, near junction 23 of the M5.

Lane one of the M5 was closed as firefighters battled to contain the fire which was close to nearby properties and businesses.

Now Charlie Tillam, who lives at the Lakeside scene, has hit out at Sedgemoor District Council, saying the area has been left overgrown for too long.

“The grass is so crisp and it has been so hot lately,” Ms Tillam said.

“We could have saved all these resources if the council cut the grass.

“It wouldn’t have been so bad or wouldn’t have happened at all. Cutbacks aren’t always a good thing.

“Residents at Lakeside couldn’t believe it, they were hanging out of their windows and watching it all. None of us could get into the field as the council locked it and didn’t think to give us a key.

“Nobody can walk down a path which leads onto the field as the grass has been left for too long and the wildlife has started breeding.

“We are so cross that this has happened – we pay our council taxes and things like this get left.”

However, a spokesman for Sedgemoor District Council said dry weather over the summer has caused fires on dry land all over the county.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service incident commander, Stephen Fowler, said fire covered 1,500 sq m and firefighters worked throughout the day to bring it under control.

“As far as we can tell there was nothing malicious that started the fire, it is just the recent weather which has obviously been extremely dry,” he said.

The blaze came amid a bitter dispute over plans which could see more than 120 homes built on the Lakeside spot.

Residents have been vocal in their objections towards proposals for 121 houses submitted by Coln Developments, although no official application has been submitted.  They have pledged to fight proposals “to the bitter end” and say the whole site should be turned into a nature trail.

Joy Russell, who also lives nearby, said: “I was saddened to the core to see the damage caused by the fire.

“I hate that many people don’t value places like this and the property developers class this area as a disused wasteland, wanting to cram houses on to an untouched wildlife haven.”