WITH now only 20 working days until an August 3 deadline, campaigners were this week still waiting for an ‘urgent’ meeting promised by Somerset Council to help complete a Government funding application to re-open the B3191 Watchet to Blue Anchor road.

Watchet Chamber of Commerce chairman John Richards said: “This is disgusting behaviour from the council and a real let-down for Watchet and its surroundings.”

The council has had since April to prepare a case to persuade the Department for Transport to contribute to the estimated cost of up to £40 million to reinstate or divert the road, closed by coastal erosion since January, 2023.

Key evidence would come from local parishes affected by the closure but, up to this week, no consultations had been arranged, and fears were growing the council could miss its deadline.

The B3191 at Cleeve Hill, Watchet, has been closed since January, 2023.
The B3191 at Cleeve Hill, Watchet, has been closed since January, 2023. PHOTO: Geckoella Ltd. ( )

Mr Richards, who is also a town councillor, said: “We had an email from the council over a week ago saying, basically, that they have not even agreed terms with the consultants doing the bid.

“Once again, we were promised a meeting but as usual nothing has happened.

“We have no idea what options for the road are being considered or what the plans are.

“I feel we have been totally ignored in Watchet and surrounding parishes and possibly sold a complete dud.”

Last week, community leaders received an email from Mike O’Dowd-Jones, the council’s transport service director, saying the authority was ‘now in a good position to have an initial stakeholder meeting’.

This week, a council spokesperson told the Free Press: “We do not have a date for the meeting yet, but we are on track to make the submission on August 3.”

The Free Press understands Mr O’Dowd-Jones is planning three meetings with stakeholders about the effects of the road closure which will not be open to the public.