FOUR parish councils have come together to criticise confusion caused by a Somerset Council move to permanently close the B3191 Watchet to Blue Anchor road.

The county authority wants to make permanent the temporary closure of the B3191, which has been closed since January, 2023, after nearby cliff subsidence.

More than 1,000 people have signed an open letter opposing the move and a call has been made for a public inquiry to be held before any final decision is made.

Town and parish councils in Watchet, Williton, Old Cleeve, and Carhampton have signed a joint letter in which they outline how officers from the Somerset authority originally told local councillors the closure was being extended for another five years.

The four councils said it was understood the current temporary closure order could have been extended for six months had the unitary authority done so a fortnight before it expired.

Instead, a number of press releases were issued stating the closure would become ‘indefinite’.

The letter said the lack of any unrestricted alternative route to Minehead now meant it was extremely difficult to close the A39 for maintenance or if there was an accident, flood, or any other major issue.

It said: “On several occasions when the A39 has closed, people who need treatment at Musgrove Park Hospital had to be airlifted to Taunton.

“The need for an alternative route cannot be overstated.”

The four councils said long-term closure would also generate a series of economic impacts, including on tourism, commercial and business development, and housing, as well as social issues.

The visitor economy supported most jobs in West Somerset but the lack of an alternative to the A39 would have knock-on effects on businesses, while visitors might choose to go elsewhere.

Double the amount of traffic was now using roads through Carhampton and Blue Anchor, and other villages along the A39 were also seeing more vehicles.

The local councils wanted assurances Somerset would produce an agreed alternative route, look at options with the Environment Agency for funding for ‘hold the line’ coastal defences, re-establish a coastal protection group with all local stakeholders, and engage with towns, parishes, and businesses which were being negatively affected to find a way of making the B3191 a through route again.

They said an options report prepared in 2020 also needed to look at a much wider area than its original three-mile zone between Watchet and Carhampton.

Watchet Town Council said separately the B3191 closure meant the only vehicular access to the lower part of Watchet and its designated port of refuge was via a bridge over the West Somerset Railway.

Town clerk Jo Grellier said confirmation was being sought of the bridge’s last inspection date and the details of any emergency contingency plans should it fail.

Ms Grellier said: “This is not just a procedural issue, it is about the safety, connectivity, and economic stability of Watchet and surrounding communities.

“Closure of this route without a clear and transparent plan puts residents, emergency services, and businesses at risk.”