WATCHET'S East Quay will be closed to people and vehicles for the next eight weeks during a £750,000 scheme to repair a section of the wall.

Work started this week and follows professional survey of the wall.

The East Quay wall is part of the structure that creates the Marina and protects Watchet as a sea defence.

Cllr Marcus Kravis, Somerset West and Taunton executive member for assets, said: “Whilst not presenting a risk to the public this central part of the structure, owned by SWT, was identified as needing work to ensure its integrity in the future.

“The council has a duty to maintain its assets and takes this responsibility seriously so I am pleased to see this work commencing and hope the community will bear with us while we carry out this planned maintenance work.”

The work is being carried out by TMS Maritime Ltd, an established marine piling company with years of experience in similar projects.

Appropriate signage is in place during the closure of East Quay,with access to the boatyard and beach via the steps at the far end of East Quay.

SWT recently completed a £1m project to rebuild the Splash Point sea defence wall in Watchet after it was destroyed in the winter storms of 2019/20.