Somerset Council in funding bid to re-open B3191 Cleeve Hill road

Somerset Council is pressing the Government for funding to reopen a key road in the west of the county.

The B3191 Cleeve Hill near Watchet was closed in January 2023 under a temporary traffic regulation order (TTRO) after cliff movement near the road was detected. A further geotechnical survey recommended it be kept closed to ensure public safety – this was actioned using the TTRO. A later detailed report found that it was safe for pedestrians and cyclists to use the route but not heavier vehicles such as cars – the order was amended accordingly.

A temporary regulation order is not an appropriate legal mechanism for an indefinite closure and the Council has now had to move to implement a permanent road closure order from 31 October, which will keep people safe for as long as the road remains at risk of failure.

Councillor Richard Wilkins, Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Transport and Waste Services, has written to Heidi Alexander, Secretary of State for Transport, to request funding to reinstate this important route.

Throughout the closure, since 2023, the Council has been in regular contact with the Department for Transport to identify potential funding. In his letter, Councillor Wilkins sets out the impact of the closure on Watchet after two years and the growing urgency of the situation.

Councillor Wilkins writes:

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.

Somerset Council needs to ensure the continued safety of the public and a clear legal position whilst the road remains unsafe to open. The Council was advised that the temporary traffic order was not an appropriate legal mechanism and could be challenged.

This meant a permanent TRO was required and the Council started the process of applying for this earlier in the year, including carrying out its statutory duty to consult on the order.

During the consultation period the Council received a number of objections, including a petition. These have now been considered and the determination process has concluded. The decision has been taken to proceed with the TRO.

At the same time, the Council is introducing measures to bolster public safety on the route for pedestrians and cyclists.

Those who have objected will be written to over the next few weeks to explain the decision.

In his letter to the Secretary of State, Councillor Wilkins also outlined community concerns that there is now only one road into Watchet over a 150-year-old bridge and that the road is crucial if the A39 is closed for maintenance or due to an incident such as an RTC or flooding.

The B3191 at Cleeve Hill is situated high on the cliffs on the coastline between Watchet and Blue Anchor. Due to its close proximity to the cliff and regular land slippage, sensors had been installed to pick up movement to alert the Highways Team.  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.

Cllr Wilkins said:

We understand the strength of feeling about the B3191, but at the same time, as the highways authority, we have a statutory duty to have the appropriate order in place.Therefore reluctantly, we have to introduce the permanent order for the safety of the public, as this is the appropriate legal mechanism. There is no way to reopen the road safely for motorised vehicles without massive structural works which would require major funding.That is why I have written to the Secretary of State to ask for funding for this vital road to be replaced or re-routed, along with the coastal protection and stabilisation measures which would be necessary to avoid continued coastal erosion. I sincerely hope this can be the start of a constructive and fruitful dialogue given the urgency of the situation.The closure order can be reversed if funding becomes available, and we will continue to lobby hard for our local communities to ensure a solution can be found and funded.