Somerset Council has submitted its bid for Government funding to reopen a vital road in the west of the county to vehicles.
The B3191 Cleeve Hill near Watchet was closed in January 2023 after cliff movement near the road was detected. A further geotechnical survey recommended it be kept closed to ensure the safety of the travelling public.
A later detailed report did find that it was safe for pedestrians and cyclists to use the route but it has remained closed to motor vehicles and the impact on the town and surrounding communities has been significant as there is only one route into the town over a 150-year-old bridge.
This week the Council has submitted its bid to the Government’s Structures Fund for a significant contribution towards what would be around a £40 million – subject to further detailed design work – 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 Highways and Transport, said:
There is of course no guarantee that we will be successful, but we must remain optimistic. Securing this funding is competitive, local authorities from across the country will be bidding for a portion of it.
This has the support of all the local councillors and the local MP, Rachel Gilmour, as well as many other stakeholders and businesses.
It 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 start. We know 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.
Details of the Structures Fund bid can be seen on a dedicated web page. The 2023 closure report can be seen on the Council’s Transport policy page.
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If you spot a problem on the road you can report it quickly and easily via the Council’s Report a problem on the road webpage.
