West Street Beach, Watchet, ‘imminent’ cliff fall alert

The land and a cliff in the West Street Beach area in Watchet are likely to be affected by rockfall, the town council said.



Residents and visitors have been warned by a message that Watchet Town Council shared on Facebook: “In early April 2022, Watchet Town Council experienced subsidence of more than two metres on allotment land at West Street Watchet.

“On health and safety grounds the allotments were immediately closed and temporarily fenced off, with tenants being helped to safely retrieve materials prior to the area being closed to all.

“Recently semi-permanent Heras fencing has been erected along the entire boundary to the allotments, with notices reinforcing the public not to enter the land which is adjacent to the cliff edge.

“In order to assess when the very unstable land and the adjoining cliff are likely to fall onto West Street Beach Watchet Town Council contracted Geckoella Ltd, our Watchet-based experts on geological and ecological matters, to undertake ongoing surveys to alert us of timing.

“Their latest report indicates that movement of the land and cliff has significantly worsened, so much so that large-scale rock falls onto the beach immediately below the allotments are imminent.

“The photograph shows the areas most likely to be affected.

“Because further landslip depends on several key factors, such as rainfall and sub-zero temperatures it is not possible to predict exactly when the major cliff fall will occur but must be considered as imminent.

“We, therefore, wish to reinforce the warning to the public to stay away from the cliff face when on West Street beach.

“Warning notices have been erected by Somerset West & Taunton Council on the West Street slipway at the eastern entrance to the beach.”