CAMPAIGNER James Wright has welcomed a Somerset Council U-turn on the closure of the B3191 Watchet to Blue Anchor road with its reopening now becoming a priority.

Mr Wright, who farms on Exmoor and is chairman of the Conservative South West Rural Forum, has led a long-running community campaign to save the strategic route.

The road has been closed for three years since a coastal cliff slippage at Cleeve Hill just yards from the carriageway.

Mr Wright started a petition objecting to the closure which was signed by nearly 1,100 residents and used Freedom of Information questions to reveal the council had permanently closed the road without holding any minuted internal meetings or taking legal advice.

Now, the council has applied to the Department for Transport’s (DfT) new Structures Fund for help with the estimated £30 to £40 million cost of either moving the B3191 further inland or making it safe for vehicles.

Campaigner James Wright delivering his letter to Somerset Council with more than 1,000 signatures opposing the closure of the B3191.
Campaigner James Wright delivering his letter to Somerset Council with more than 1,000 signatures opposing the closure of the B3191.

The council expects to hear by Wednesday (May 6) if the Government will support preparation of a full bid, and, if so, it will then need to put together a business case by August 3.

Mr Wright said: “This is a victory for everybody who signed the letter calling on Somerset Council to do more for residents and businesses in Watchet and Blue Anchor.

“The council made the closure permanent without exhausting all the funding opportunities available to them.

“I am glad they are now treating this as their highest priority road and have submitted an application.

“Now, we need the Government to back it, and Somerset Council to fight hard for the funding Watchet deserves.

“When the road closed, I found there were no proper impact assessments or minuted meetings done beforehand.

“But, because over a thousand people signed the consultation response, the council is finally taking this issue seriously.

“It affects not only the people who live here, but businesses and those who visit as well.

“I will keep pushing to ensure a proper business case is sent to the Government, but I am glad to see this progress.”

The Structures Fund, launched last month by the DfT, provides capital funding to local authorities for the repair or replacement of highway structures which are unaffordable within existing maintenance budgets.