THE start of a £3.8 million operation to halt further cliff erosion on the coast in Blue Anchor was today welcomed by West Somerset MP Ian Liddell-Grainger.

But Mr Liddell-Grainger warned similar problems affecting the B3191 in Cleeve Hill, Watchet, which has been closed indefinitely, were going to take a long time to resolve.

In an operation delayed first by Covid and then by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, specialist contractors this week started reinforcing sea defences in Blue Anchor with thousands of tons of rock.

The scheme was designed to protect not just the nearby the Blue Anchor Hotel but the B3191 road itself.

Mr Liddell-Grainger said residents in the area would be highly relieved to see the work underway.

He said: “There has undoubtedly been further erosion since it was announced the scheme would be funded, but even given the unavoidable delays I still hope this operation can provide a long-term answer to erosion in that area.

“The essence of the situation is that the cliffs at this point are extremely soft and therefore highly prone to attack from the sea.

“This work is designed to mitigate the effects of wave action.

“And it is important that we protect the coastline wherever it is feasible and economic to do so.

“There have been some arguments advanced for a managed retreat at Blue Anchor, to draw back to a new landward sea defence line.

“But that would have spelled the end for so many businesses that Blue Anchor as a resort would virtually cease to exist.”

Mr Liddell-Grainger said the Cleeve Hill problems were even more complex.

“I have had meetings with local councillors and with engineers and everyone is agreed, there is no quick and simple solution,” he said.

“There are two inescapable facts which everybody has recognised, the current route of the road is too dangerous to use, and only a major realignment is going to provide a solution.

“That, however, will cost many millions.

“Sorting this out is going to be a team effort.

“Once we have firm proposals drawn up, I am more than ready to approach Ministers about funding possibilities but it will be necessary to make out the strongest economic case to support any scheme that we agree on.

“In the meantime, I sincerely hope the efforts made by traders and the local authority to let everybody know that Watchet is still very much open for business this summer will have a measurable effect.”

About 13,500 tonnes of granite rock armour will be placed against the Blue Anchor cliffs to reduce continuing erosion, most of the material arriving by ship.

The project should have started last autumn but the only available ships the council could find were Russian, and could not be used because of sanctions imposed following the war in Ukraine.

Emergency works to stabilise the wall and reduce the risk of collapse had been carried out in 2020.

Rock delivery was expected to take 32 days, with most arriving on the vessel Hagland Saga.

The ship has brought 4,500 tonnes of rock from Glensanda Quarry, in western Scotland, and was transferring it onto a barge to be deposited on the beach at each high tide, subject to suitable weather.

The rock will be moved up the beach at low tide.

The vessel will return to Scotland to collect a further 4,500 tonnes of rock and repeat the process until all 13,500 tonnes has been delivered.

Somerset Council warned that access to the beach might be restricted at times and the public were asked to stay clear of rock piles.

Once all rock has been delivered and placed, the upper slope of the cliff will be reprofiled.

The project is expected to be completed by the end of September.

The scheme has been designed by WSP and will be delivered by contractor Kier and sub-contractor Kelston Sparkes.

Council transport portfolio Cllr Mike Rigby said: “Arranging the vessel has been quite a complex and lengthy logistical operation and I am pleased we are now seeing that hard work come to fruition to protect part of the B3191 road close to Blue Anchor.

“This work will deliver vital infrastructure protection. My thanks to the team for organising what has been a really difficult project.”