‘Vital’ Somerset coastal road could reopen if cash secured

The local authority is bidding for money from the government’s Structures Fund

A “vital” coastal road in Somerset that closed three years ago over safety concerns could reopen to traffic. Somerset Council is bidding for Government cash to reopen the B3191 Cleeve Hill, which links Watchet to Blue Anchor in Somerset.

The road was shut by the local authority in January 2023 due to concerns around coastal erosion. The closure left just one route in and out of the town centre, using a 150-year-old bridge over the West Somerset Railway heritage line.

The B3191 reopened to pedestrians and cyclists in 2024 but has remained closed to motor vehicles.

Somerset Council has now submitted an initial bid to the government’s Structures Fund for a contribution towards what would be a £30 to £40m scheme to reinstate the B3191, either by making the existing route safe for vehicles or by redirecting the route further inland.

Councillor Richard Wilkins, Somerset Council’s lead member for transport and waste services, said: “There is of course no guarantee that we can get this agreed, and any scheme would need to be approved by council, but we have been directed to this fund by the Secretary of State who recognises the issues locally and this is the first real chance we have had to find a way to reinstate this vital route for the community since it closed in 2023.

“We will be pushing hard for this funding, as we have been doing so from the outset – we fully understand the impact on the community of only having one road into Watchet, and the potential impact on the West Somerset traffic that has to take long diversions if the A39 has to close due to an incident.

“We consulted our communities about the ongoing closure and they told us that it is having a major effect on the economy of Watchet including the cost to the local economy and the inconvenience in terms of hours lost in delays, the logistics of coping with delivering goods to and from Minehead as well as the negative effects on tourism.”