A permanent road closure notice is being issued by Somerset Council to ensure the continued safety of the public at a location in west Somerset.
The B3191 Cleeve Hill near Watchet was closed in January 2023 after cliff movement near the road was reported. A further geotechnical survey recommended it be kept closed for an indefinite period and this was done under a temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TRO). A later detailed report found that it was safe for pedestrians and cyclists to use the route but not vehicles – the order was amended accordingly.
At this time, the major funding required either to safeguard the road so it can be reopened or to build a replacement road is not available, so the Council needs to apply for a permanent TRO to replace the temporary one.
The Council remains committed to exploring all potential sources of funding and is continuing to lobby for transport investment in the area. The TRO can be reversed in the future should funding become available.
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.
More 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.
Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Transport and Waste, Councillor Richard Wilkins said:
The situation is unchanged – the B3191 remains unsafe for motor vehicles, but we need to move to a proper legal position with respect to these roads.
However, we are continuing to lobby for transport investment in our county, when funding streams become available we will lobby strongly on behalf of local communities.
The Council has been successful in influencing the Peninsula Transport Strategic Investment Plan which sets out agreed regional priorities for transport investment in the south west peninsula.
This plan highlights the need for a Watchet Coastal Erosion Package as one of the investment priorities for the region and will be used to help prioritise regional investment as and when appropriate funding sources become available.
The PTSI plan can be viewed here https://www.peninsulatransport.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Peninsula-Transport-Strategic-Implementation-Plan-March-25.pdf
