EXMOOR farmer and political activist James Wright has launched a campaign to stop the permanent closure of the B3191 Watchet to Blue Anchor road.

The road was shut suddenly in January, 2023, after movement in coastal cliffs at Cleeve Hill and has remained ‘temporarily’ closed.

Now, bankruptcy-threatened Somerset Council wants to make the closure a permanent measure because it cannot afford the estimated £36 million cost of re-routing the road.

But critics said it would leave communities cut off and, damage the local economy, and meant ‘abandoning the future of Watchet’.

Mr Wright, who is chairman of the Conservative South West Rural Forum, said people had until June 12 to formally object to the proposed closure order.

He said: “This road is a lifeline.

“Somerset Council wants to shut it for good, with no plan, no alternative, and no accountability.

“Residents and businesses in Watchet and the surrounding villages like Blue Anchor and Old Cleeve deserve better than to be left behind.

“We understand the risks of cliff erosion, but walking away is not a solution.

“Councils exist to solve problems, not dodge them.”

Mr Wright said a letter-writing campaign had been launched with people calling on Somerset Council to pause its permanent traffic regulation order (TRO) application and commit to a long-term solution which protected public safety while maintaining access.

He encouraged residents to sign an open rejection letter which will be submitted to the TRO consultation, which could be found on his website.

The letter states: “We urge Somerset Council to halt this permanent closure and instead work with local leaders, the Department for Transport, and engineers to find a safe, affordable, alternative route or reinforcement solution.

“A permanent closure, without an alternative solution in place, would have long-lasting and deeply damaging consequences for local businesses, emergency access, tourism, and residents’ quality of life.”