ELECTORS in Watchet will go to the polls to decide if they want to pick up the bulk of the bill to replace the town's railway footbridge.

West Somerset Council, which owns the structure, has agreed to fund the cost of the public poll after telling Watchet Town Council it did not have the money to either repair or replace it.

The footbridge has been closed to the public for almost a year following fears over its safety.

The town council would have to take out a one-off loan to pay the majority of the estimated £130,000 replacement cost which would have to be paid back by a special precept on Council Taxpayers in the town.

But councillors wanted to ensure they had the backing of local people before embarking on such a controversial move.

The issue was debated at a special meeting in August but deferred to this week because a number of councillors were away.

Cllr David Banks told the Free Press this week that a series of meetings had taken place with the district authority and a referendum would now be held to test the feelings of local people.

He said the question posed would be detailed and contain the full background behind the issue.

Depending on the response rate, councillors will then decided whether to fund the replacement, with any loan repaid over either five or ten years.

Cllr Banks said the ballot would probably be held within the next three to four weeks with the decision taken soon afterwards.