Residents of west Somerset face a summer of uncertainty as they await the fate of a £41m bid to reopen one of the area's most crucial roads.
The B3191 Cleeve Hill between Watchet and Blue Anchor provided a valuable diversionary route for holidaymakers whenever the A39 between Minehead and Williton was congested.
The road was closed indefinitely by Somerset County Council in January 2023 due to concerns about coastal erosion, leaving residents and visitors with only one route in and out of the town centre, using a 150-year-old bridge over the West Somerset Railway heritage line.
Somerset Council (which replaced the county council in April 2023) announced in late-April that it would submit a bid to the government's £1bn structures fund to reopen the road, either by making the existing road safer or moving the route further inland.
The bid has now been formally submitted to the Department for Transport (DfT), with Tiverton and Minehead MP Rachel Gilmour urging transport secretary Heidi Alexander MP to back the scheme in a strongly worded letter.
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The people of Watchet will find out whether the bid has been successful some time in the autumn - with any new scheme having to be implemented by 2030.
In her letter to Mrs Alexander dated July 27 - seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Services - Mrs Gilmour offered her "strongest possible support" for the council's bid, claiming it was "of critical importance to the communities, businesses and economy of Watchet and the wider west Somerset area" and arguing there was "an overwhelming case for government support".
She elaborated: "Watchet now relies upon a single vehicular route into and out of the town, crossing a bridge that is more than 150 years old.
"This leaves residents, businesses and visitors vulnerable whenever there are incidents, maintenance works, flooding or congestion on the surrounding network.
"West Somerset’s economy is heavily dependent upon tourism, hospitality and small businesses. The B3191 serves important tourism destinations and provides access to holiday parks, caravan sites, camping facilities and visitor attractions that are central to the local economy.
"The route also supports access to Watchet itself, a historic harbour town whose prosperity depends upon visitors being able to reach the area safely and efficiently.
"Local representatives have consistently highlighted that the current diversionary arrangements are unsuitable for large vehicles, coaches and caravans and that this places additional pressures on surrounding rural roads.
"They have also spoken of the broader impact on confidence, investment and economic growth in an area that already faces profound challenges in relation to wages, employment opportunities and connectivity."
The road has been open to pedestrians and cyclists since the spring of 2024, but was permanently closed to motorists in October 2025 following a public consultation.
In line with the findings of a 2020 study carried out by WSP, the council intends to realign the carriageway inland towards the railway line, with additional rock armour being installed at the base of the cliff to slow further erosion.
Mrs Gilmour continued: "This scheme is not simply about replacing a road. It is about safeguarding the future of a coastal community.
In my view, few infrastructure projects better demonstrate the government's objectives of supporting economic growth, improving resilience and investing in communities that might otherwise be left behind.
"For the people of Watchet and west Somerset, this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to address a long-standing vulnerability and secure the future of a vital piece of infrastructure.
"I therefore urge the Department for Transport to give Somerset Council’s bid the fullest and most favourable consideration. The scheme has my complete support, and I know that support is shared by local residents, businesses, community leaders and elected representatives across west Somerset."
The council's bid (which has been published in full on its official website) estimates the total cost of the scheme at "approximately £40.8m".
Of this, 90 per cent of the funding (around £36.7m) will come from the DfT's structures fund, with the council providing five per cent (just over £2m) and the remaining five per cent coming from the Environment Agency (EA).
Councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for highways and transport, said: "There is, of course, no guarantee that we will be successful, but we must remain optimistic.
"Securing this funding is competitive, local authorities from across the country will be bidding for a portion of it.
"It is the first real chance we have had to find a way to reinstate this vital route for the community since it closed in 2023.
“We will be pushing hard for this funding, as we have been doing so from the start."
The winning bids will be announced by the DfT within the next three months.
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