SOMERSET Council has been urged to ‘pull its finger out’ and speed up preparations to apply for Government funds to re-open the B3191 road between Watchet and Blue Anchor.

The council has until August 3 to prepare a case which will convince the Department for Transport (DfT) to make a ‘significant contribution’ to the estimated £30 to £40 million cost of making the road safe for vehicles or diverting it inland.

An online meeting on Tuesday between council transport chiefs and 10 members of the local community network of parish and town councillors and business leaders saw complaints about the council’s lack of consultation and its apparent lack of urgency, given the approaching deadline.

Watchet Chamber of Commerce (WACET) chairman John Richards said after the meeting: “I feel things are not moving as fast as they should be and Somerset Council should pull its finger out right away.

“I appreciate the timescale is short, but there has been no attempt to talk to people in the affected parishes who know the real effect that the road closure has had.

“We need somebody to come to Watchet and spend the day talking to people.

“We also need more up-to-date geological data and other information to make a really convincing case.”

Council infrastructure and transport director Mike O’Dowd-Jones apologised for the lack of early consultation and said there would be ‘ongoing, open dialogue throughout the business case process’, emphasising the need for local economic data and support to strengthen the bid.

Mr O’Dowd-Jones said the DfT’s structures fund would require the road scheme to be completed by March, 2030, and that at least 10 per cent of the possible £40 million cost would have to come from local sources.

He said a 2020 geological study was now outdated due to accelerating cliff erosion and confirmed that consultants would refresh the technical data, review all previous options, and incorporate new geotechnical surveys and local data on cliff recession.

The business case would include a risk assessment for compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) and outline a strategy for negotiating land acquisition, with CPOs as a last resort.

Those attending also included Dunster parish Cllr Peter Finney, Minehead Somerset Cllr Mandy Chilcott, and Carhampton parish Cllr Brenda Maitland-Walker.

They stressed the severe economic and social impacts of the Cleeve Hill road closure on local businesses, tourism, and daily life, providing evidence and data to support the business case.

Mr Richards and Cllr Finney also reported significant declines in local trade, with some shops experiencing up to 50 per cent reductions in turnover and others closing or changing business models.

Cllrs Chilcott and Maitland-Walker highlighted the drop in visitor numbers.

They said the closure had led to fewer visitors, impacting not only Watchet but also Dunster, Minehead, and surrounding areas.

It was agreed the road closure had led to increased travel times and general disruption.

The impact extended beyond Watchet, affecting the wider West Somerset area, and there was a need for comprehensive data to support the business case.