A £1 million initiative to stabilise the cliffs along Minehead’s North Hill has been postponed due to staffing shortages and governance issues within Somerset Council. North Hill, spanning almost five miles toward Porlock and home to part of the South West Coast Path, has faced ongoing erosion, resulting in rock falls and land slips that threaten residents and visitors alike.
Initially announced in February 2023 by Somerset West and Taunton Council, the funding was intended to develop a long-term stabilisation scheme expected to protect the cliffs for the next 50 years. However, recent reports to Somerset Council’s audit committee reveal that progress has stalled, with no clear timeline for resuming work.
The cliffs, owned by the council following the acquisition from private owners and subsequent administrative changes in April 2023, had a £62,000 study commissioned to design protective measures. These include installing a high tensile steel fence along the cliff base above Quay Street to catch debris from soil, stones, and rocks, thereby safeguarding homes and roadways.
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Despite early assessments, recent evaluations show increasing instability and risk to both the community and visitors, heightening the urgency for intervention. Although nearly £1 million has been allocated and included in the council’s capital programme to be spent by April 2027, the scheme’s progress has been hindered.
Challenges outlined in the audit committee report include recruitment difficulties causing resource shortages, poor governance requiring comprehensive corporate solutions, and knowledge gaps stemming from staff turnover amid the council’s transformation initiatives. As of late June 2024, only about 25% of the options and feasibility work had been completed, well behind the original May 29 deadline.
In response, the council has appointed a dedicated service manager to focus exclusively on coastal risk matters for the next three months. Additionally, an asset management register for flood and coastal risks is nearing completion, and drone inspections are being deployed to assess current cliff conditions and immediate maintenance needs.
Recruitment efforts are underway to fill specialist roles for flood and coastal engineering support, which will enhance technical guidance and asset management capabilities. The council has also pledged to keep local communities, councillors, town and parish councils, and flood action groups informed about ongoing plans and actions addressing North Hill’s coastal risks and other vulnerable areas.