Residents demand U-turn on permanent road closure

More than 1,000 people have signed a letter demanding a council reverses its decision to permanently close a coastal road.

The B3191 in Watchet, Somerset, was hit with a permanent traffic regulation order in May, after it was found to be too unstable to allow vehicles through due to coastal erosion.

Campaigner James Wright said the closure was "hurting people" and coastal communities needed to be listened to.

The cliff-side road, known locally as Cleeve Hill, remains accessible to pedestrians and cyclists and Somerset Council said it was committed to finding new ways of funding a solution.

The road had been temporarily closed to traffic since January 2023.

Mr Wright said 1,152 residents had signed his letter opposing the road being shut permanently.

He added: "Blue Anchor and Watchet are both difficult to reach places... and local connectivity is so important.

"The permanent closure meant the council lost the responsibility to keep that road open. They wouldn't have had to find an alternative.

"We're hoping the council keep the temporary closure... so they have a duty to review it. We hope they listen to the people and keep the road as it is."

The council said the permanent order could be reversed if needed, adding it was "committed to exploring all potential sources of funding and is continuing to lobby for transport investment in the area".

A spokesperson said: "Detailed inspections following January 2023 revealed further movement was inevitable and it will be impossible to safely reopen the road to vehicles without major intervention such as creation of an alternative alignment for the road and cliff protection and stabilisation measures at Cleeve Hill.

"The council has completed cliff protection works at nearby Blue Anchor in order to ensure that an alternative route remains available for traffic to access businesses and destinations along the B3191."

Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.