RESIDENTS in Watchet are being urged to speak up and have their say of how the town should look in the future.

Watchet Neighbourhood Advisory Committee said it was working with the local community to help shape the future of Watchet over the next 20 years and wanted to have as many local voices, ideas, and opinions involved as possible.

The town has suffered a massive drop off in trade and visitor numbers in the past three years since Somerset Council closed the B3191 coastal road due to the threat from cliff erosion.

The situation was made worse recently when the B3191 on the other side of Watchet was closed for weeks for a gas mains upgrade, leaving the town accessible only via a minor road through Doniford.

But, work has continued on the town’s neighbourhood plan since its official lunch in June of this year, which will eventually help to influence the type of development which is permitted locally.

A neighbourhood plan is being prepared for Watchet and the committee behind it wants to hear the views of residents on how the town should look in future.
A neighbourhood plan is being prepared for Watchet and the committee behind it wants to hear the views of residents on how the town should look in future. (Tindle News)

Neighbourhood plans are a Government-led scheme which provide an opportunity for all the people of a community to take a leading role in planning and protecting their future.

Watchet Town Council, Somerset Council, and the Watchet Task Force, which was set up after the coast road closure, also commissioned consultants from Feria Urbanism to take a closer look at the community and explore opportunities for the future.

Feria worked alongside local stakeholders to produce an 80-page urban design strategy, identifying ways Watchet could become a more welcoming, connected, and accessible place for residents, businesses, and visitors alike.

The report explored a number of possibilities, including:

  • Improving walking routes and pedestrian connections throughout the town
  • Making the most of Watchet’s waterfront and creating a more connected coastal experience
  • Reimagining public spaces, including car parks, to introduce more greenery and create attractive, welcoming environments while recognising the importance of parking
  • Exploring how streets and shared spaces could better serve the people who live, work, and visit

The neighbourhood advisory committee has published a number of videos showing the possibilities, but warned the ideas and visualisations were illustrative concepts only, and not confirmed plans for any development.

A spokesperson said: “Instead, they offer an opportunity to think creatively about Watchet’s potential, consider what might be possible and start conversations about what our town needs.

Watchet residents are being urged to speak up and have their say on a neighbourhood plan which will help shape the future of the town over the next 20 years.
Watchet residents are being urged to speak up and have their say on a neighbourhood plan which will help shape the future of the town over the next 20 years. (Tindle News)

“As work continues on the Watchet Neighbourhood Plan, looking at previous studies like the Feria report helps us understand the opportunities, challenges, and ideas that have already been explored.

“What do you think?

“What would you like to see improved, protected, or developed in Watchet over the coming years?

“Your thoughts matter, and community involvement is at the heart of shaping Watchet’s future.”

A questionnaire for people to express their views is available on the neighbourhood plan advisory committee’s website.

The completed plan will need to be approved by a referendum before it can be formally adopted by Somerset Council so it can form part of the statutory development plan for the area.