Somerset Council has submitted a £40 million bid to the UK government to reopen the B3191 Cleeve Hill road, a crucial coastal route in west Somerset that has been closed since January 2023. The road, which connects Watchet and Blue Anchor, served as an important diversion for holidaymakers and locals, especially when the nearby A39 route was congested.
The closure was imposed indefinitely by Somerset County Council due to coastal erosion risks, reducing access options to Watchet’s town centre. Currently, all motor vehicles must use a single alternative route involving a 150-year-old bridge over the West Somerset Railway heritage line. While pedestrians and cyclists have had limited access since spring 2024, motor vehicles remain barred.
After Somerset Council replaced the county council in April 2023, officials formally applied for funding from the government’s Structures Fund with plans either to reinforce the existing stretch or to realign the road further inland. Councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for transport and waste services, emphasized the importance of reopening the road, stating, “This is the first real chance we have had to reinstate this vital route for the community since it closed in 2023.”
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Despite more than 1,000 local objections to the permanent closure announced in October 2025, political representatives from both the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties continue advocating for reopening the road. Local MP Rachel Gilmour supports incorporating the plan within a larger west Somerset tidal lagoon project.
The council acknowledges the significant community impact caused by limited access, including economic strain on Watchet, logistical challenges for goods delivery between the area and Minehead, and negative effects on local tourism. The Cleeve Hill Development Group previously proposed relocating the road inland as part of a 136-home development, but councillors rejected this in January 2023.
The Environment Agency has allocated around £1 million to reinforce the cliffs near Watchet, which may complement any future road restoration project. Councillor Sarah Wakefield, who oversees adults' services, housing, and homelessness, called for the road’s reopening to be a priority in the council’s local transport plan, emphasizing the inconvenience faced by drivers forced to take lengthy detours.
While the council has not disclosed how much government funding might be awarded from the £40 million bid, the Department for Transport will announce successful applicants in the autumn. Any approved projects must be completed by March 2030.