A NEW drone survey is to be carried out of cliffs along West Street, Watchet, following a fresh landslip at the weekend.

The cliff face above West Street Beach was fenced off by the town council two years ago after it subsided by more than six feet and people were warned to stay away from it and nearby allotments permanently closed.

Now, a further slippage has occurred following recent heavy rain and the council’s geotechnical consultancy Geckoella Ltd, which has been monitoring the situation and conducting ground surveys, is to fly over the area with a drone early next month. 

Geckoella director and principal geologist Dr Andy King said: “After the rainfall of the previous week and rapid drying out of the cliffs during the brief, intervening sunny periods, we were anticipating further fracturing within the cliffs and resultant rock falls and slips.

“The cliff toe in front of the former allotments in particular has eroded and moved significantly in the past few weeks and this will have knock-on impacts for the middle and higher parts of the remaining red mudstone cliff.

“We are in active liaison with Watchet Town Council and are scheduling another drone survey for early July, but in the meantime we will be closely monitoring and watching for any further activity within the cliff terraces north of the West Street car park and adjoining cliff areas.”

Town clerk Jo Grellier said councillors were continuing to monitor and assess the risks with Geckoella and Somerset Council, which owned the beach and adjoining areas, and to take appropriate actions as advised by the experts.

Ms Grellier said: “Nothing can be done to prevent the erosion of the specific part of the cliff adjacent to the allotments/car park, but we expect Somerset Council to continue to address any wider risks to Watchet urban and harbour areas and how sea defences there are to be maintained.”

A spokesperson for Somerset Council said: “The land in question is owned by Watchet Town Council, which has responsibility for it.

“There are no current plans to provide further coastal defences in this area.”