ROAD closures on both Porlock Hill and a private toll road nearby left motorists having to take the long route round this week - with the same to come next week.

As reported last week, Somerset County Council is undertaking a challenging resurfacing scheme on the A39 at Porlock Hill.

But owners of the toll road were not aware of this until they saw the signs a week before, and had already planned their winter maintenance work for the same period.

A council spokesman last week said they had to signpost people along the nearest A road.

But this was advisory and drivers were free to use their own judgement and seek their own alternatives, including the nearby private toll road.

But that road, officially called New Road, is closed for routine winter maintenance and will not reopen until the morning of Saturday March 18.

“If we had known earlier, we might have been able to adjust our plans,” said Mark Blathwayt, owner of the Porlock Manor Estate which includes the private toll road.

“We regularly close the road for maintenance but would not normally choose to do it when Porlock Hill was shut.

“Timing is everything - everyone is under pressure, the local authority no less so, and it’s important to talk to each other.

“We have had excellent relations with the council in the past and I hope good neighbourly relations will be re-established so we can make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

Mr Blathwayt said the toll road was being made ready for spring now, and after Storm Doris there were a lot of gutters that need to be cleared and other routine maintenance. They could not do this if traffic from the A39 was using it.

He stressed that Porlock and Porlock Weir were as accessible as ever from the Taunton, Bridgwater, Williton and Minehead side, and were open for business.

A new modern road surface with high skid resistance is being laid at Porlock Hill and the road has been fully closed this week. It is due to re-open for the weekend then close again from 7.30am to 5.30pm from Monday until Friday for completion.

A spokesman for Somerset County Council said: “The resurfacing on Porlock Hill was advertised through the usual channels, including letters to stakeholders, advance warning signs on site and press releases, and there was widespread coverage in the media.

“The toll road is privately owned so does not form part of the advertised diversion route.

“Anyone seeking to use the toll road would need to pay and any decision to open or close the toll road is up to the owners.

“Road closures are always a last resort and we hope people can understand why Porlock Hill must be closed so we can safely carry out this essential maintenance work to improve a key West Somerset route.”