THE estimated cost of reopening the B3191 road from Watchet to Blue Anchor has more than doubled in two years.

But Somerset Council has said it has no plans to reopen the road anyway.

It was shut in early 2023 after being deemed at risk of falling into the sea as cliffs eroded.

The council said re-routing the highway inland was likely to cost about £34 million.

Now, community services executive director Chris Hall has told a local community network meeting of Watchet councillors and representatives of other organisations the latest realignment estimate was £72 million.

Mr Hall said there were no identifiable funding sources available which might mitigate some of the costs, and therefore a case could not be made for Government help.