Hundreds sign against permanent closure of coastal road
The B3191 Cleeve Hill has been ordered to be closed permanently.
Hundreds of Somerset residents have formally objected to plans to permanently close a key coastal road.
The B3191 Cleeve Hill, which links Watchet to Blue Anchor, served as a key commuting route for locals, and provided a valuable diversionary route for holidaymakers whenever the A39 between Minehead and Williton was congested.
The road was closed indefinitely by Somerset County Council in January 2023 due to concerns about coastal erosion – and while pedestrians and cyclists have been able to use the route since the spring of 2024, motorised vehicles are still banned along this entire stretch.
Somerset Council (which replaced the county council in April 2023) confirmed in mid-May that it would be making an order to permanently close the road until funding to divert the route inland became available – similar to what it recently implemented with the closure of Chinnock Hollow near Yeovil.
More than 1,100 residents have formally objected to the permanent closure of the road – with the council expected to make a final ruling in the coming weeks.
An open letter with 1,152 signatures was delivered to County Hall in Taunton on June 12 by James Wright, Exmoor farmer and chairman of the South West Conservative Rural Forum.
Speaking at the time, he said: “This isn’t just about a road. It’s about whether coastal communities get heard or ignored.
“We’re not asking for a miracle. We’re asking Somerset Council to do its job, protect public safety without walking away from its responsibilities.”
The road has been identified for enhancement by the Peninsula Transport sub-national transport body, which brings together councillors from Cornwall, Devon and Somerset.
In its recently-published strategic implementation plan (SIP), the body has estimates it will require between £20m and £50m to divert the road inland and prevent further coastal erosion.
Mr Wright added: “Everyone I spoke to, the families, older residents, local businesses, told me the same thing this closure is hurting people.
“The council now has a clear choice – to listen, or to keep letting west Somerset down.”
Rachel Gilmour, the Liberal Democrat MP for Tiverton and Minehead, has been pushing for transport secretary Heidi Alexander MP to visit Watchet to see the impact of the road closure first-hand on local businesses.
Speaking during the consultation, she said: “While the permanent closure was inevitable due to the risks associated with the road, I will continue to press for solutions at a national and local government level, so that Watchet and Blue Anchor can have the road infrastructure that both towns need and deserve.
“I will never stop fighting on behalf of my constituents, so the government will be hearing more on this from me in the future.”
Somerset Council has not confirmed whether the responses to the consultation will be openly discussed by one of its scrutiny committees or executive committee before any final decision is taken.
A spokesperson said: “The consultation closed on June 13. The responses will be analysed and a report prepared in due course.”