Council hits back over closure of 'critical' road

The B3191 has been closed since January 2023

A town council in Somerset has said it wants "transparency" over the decision to close a coastal route.

Due to coastal erosion, the B3191 between Watchet and Blue Anchor has been closed since January 2023, and it was announced in May that the road would be permanently closed.

Now, Watchet Town Council has said it has "urgent concerns" over the way the closure of the "critical" route was handled.

Somerset Council said: "All responses are being taken into account. We have received a letter from the town council and will respond to them in detail shortly."

While not objecting to the closure of the road itself, Watchet Town Council claimed Somerset Council, which manages the highway, is not "really properly doing any due diligence over alternatives".

John Irven from the council said the unitary authority "gave a 21-day notice period, but didn't really publish it, so a lot people weren't able to put objections in".

"So we've asked them why they're not publishing that on their website to give more people the opportunity to understand and put their objections in," he added.

"We really want some clarification from them on what specific actions they're going to do to involve the public and those who've made objections."

The road is crumbling into the Bristol Channel

John Richards, speaking in his capacity as the chairman of the town's chamber of commerce, said "We believe the original road closure was necessary and a continued one - but we believe there are alternatives.

"They might be pricey, but it has not been properly investigated and costed. This is where we find Somerset Council in error."

Somerset Council said: "A team met with Watchet Town Council to brief them on the proposed Temporary Traffic Regulation Order process before we commenced it.

"Somerset Council has followed the appropriate legal process for this type of traffic order, including consultation requirements."