Somerset Council has no budget allocated to reopen Chinnock Hollow, a vital rat run in Yeovil, nearly five years after it was closed due to a significant landslide.
The narrow road, which connects the A30 High Street in East Chinnock with the neighbouring village of Odcombe, has been closed since February 21, 2021. A substantial landslide deposited some 20 tonnes of rock, sand, and a large tree, blocking the route completely.
In May 2025, the council issued a permanent closure order on safety grounds, mirroring a similar decision made for the B3191 Cleeve Hill route—though that road remains accessible to pedestrians and cyclists.
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County Councillor Oliver Patrick, representing the Coker division which includes Chinnock Hollow, has actively pressed the council to reconsider the closure as budget decisions for upcoming years are made, particularly with impending roadworks on the congested A30.
However, council officials have maintained that limited funds must prioritize highway improvements benefiting the majority of motorists, given rising costs and competing pressures.
In a direct email to Councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for transport and waste services, Mr. Patrick highlighted the ongoing community frustration. He pointed out that reopening the road, including measures such as de-vegetation and installation of high-strength steel mesh netting, was previously estimated at £1.95 million (2023 prices). He urged the council to consider allocating funds for reopening in the 2026/27 or 2027/28 budgets.
Mr. Patrick acknowledged the financial constraints faced by Somerset Council, with a substantial portion of funding already dedicated to social care.
Adding to the pressure, upcoming roadworks on the A30 West Coker Road will involve two weeks of overnight closures, forcing East Chinnock residents to undertake long detours through Crewkerne and Merriott to reach Yeovil. Mr. Patrick stressed that the closure of Chinnock Hollow removes a critical alternative route, forcing drivers onto narrow, single-track back roads without passing places — raising safety concerns.
Councillor Wilkins responded by validating the importance of the route but explained that, due to increased deterioration and inflation, the cost to make the road safe has since risen and no funding is currently available. He emphasized the need to focus on investments that maximize public safety across the county, such as repairing major A-roads and addressing urgent drainage and embankment issues.
Wilkins also noted that slope monitoring equipment, effective on larger geological sites like Cleeve Hill, could not be reliably implemented at Chinnock Hollow due to the road’s unique steep and narrow embankments.
Despite the council’s stance, Mr. Patrick and fellow Coker division member Mark Hewitson plan to continue campaigning for the road’s reopening. Mr. Patrick challenged the assumption that the slopes remain persistently unsafe, reminding that prior to 2021 the road operated safely for decades and there have been no further movements since closing.
He warned that indefinite closure risks escalating remediation costs and urged proactive investment to protect this important community route.