A PACKAGE of traffic calming measures has been agreed for a West Somerset parish affected by the closure of the B3191 near Watchet.

It follows a meeting between Old Cleeve Parish council chairman Cllr Ian Duncan and Somerset Council highways officer Katherine Tyson.

Parish councillors were concerned at what could be done to improve alternative routes and make them safer for residents since the B3191 closure.

The B3191 was closed by Somerset Council indefinitely in January amid fears that coastal erosion near Cleeve Hill could see it collapse into the sea.

Among the approved measures is the introduction of a 40 mph speed limit between the Beeches holiday park and Blue Anchor.

A 20 mph limit will be brought in for Old Cleeve village, and a 30 mph limit in Bilbrook Lane, while the possibility of extending the 30 mph zone from Dragons Cross toward Washford will also be explored.

Somerset Council will also repair or replace damaged signs and repaint speed limits on the road surface, including in Roadwater.

Community signage will be also be installed in Old Cleeve village and Chapel Cleeve where previously there was none.

The parish council was also told it could apply for police-approved Speed Indicator Devices (SIDs) or vehicle activated signs, with Somerset Council meeting the cost and recouping the money from Avon and Somerset Constabulary in order to have them in place more quickly.

All of the existing temporary diversion signs would be replaced with permanent signage, along with ‘unsuitable for HGV’ signs in Old Cleeve and in the lane between Washford and Old Cleeve.