HOMES within a Somerset caravan park will have to be moved after a “significant cliff fall” put residents at risk.

The West Bay Park caravan site in Watchet has been found in breach of its licence because of the nearby cliffs falling into the Bristol Channel.

Somerset West and Taunton Council has ordered the park’s owners to arrange two of the residential caravans within its boundary to be relocated as soon as possible.

The council has said it will work with the park’s owners to support the residents concerned and prevent them from becoming homeless.

Under the terms of the park’s licence, its boundary must be at least three metres from the cliff edge at all times, to avoid putting residents and their property in peril.

Officers were first elected to the cliff fall on February 17, and carried out a site visit the following day.

Licensing specialist John Rendell told the council’s licensing committee in Williton on Monday evening (March 9) that the cliff falls had “no doubt been accelerated by the recent inclement weather.”

He said in his written report: “In one case, parts of a concrete foundation were exposed and posts supporting an area of decking were left hovering over the drop.

“Thankfully, the site owners had been already been in touch with the households of the two homes affected, and alternative temporary accommodation has been found.

“Unfortunately, with there being no other space within the site to move the affected homes and it being clear that stabilisation works would only act as a temporary solution, it was decided that, to properly safeguard residents, a compliance notice was issued requiring that the homes be moved.”

Mr Rendell said the deadline for moving the two homes had been extended to the end of the month, and that the council would support the households affected to ensure they did not become homeless as a result of these events.

He said: “Subsequent to the conversations with the site owners, we have extended the deadline to March 26.

“As you can imagine, the homes are not the easiest things to shift.”