A FOOTPATH in Berrow has been closed by Somerset Council due after an inspection deemed it to be unsafe.

The boardwalk from Burnham & Berrow Golf Club to the greenkeeper’s compound near the Co-op supermarket will be shut for a minimum of six months.

A spokesperson for Somerset Council told the Weekly News: “We appreciate how popular this route is, but at the moment we’re not able to provide a timescale for its reopening.

“The boardwalk was inspected by the Council’s Rights of Way Team earlier this year in August and November.

"Between these inspections it had deteriorated significantly, necessitating a temporary closure to safeguard the public.

"This is for an initial period of six months but can be extended if required.

"It allows for planned works and can be lifted once any works are complete.

“Our team is assessing whether repairs to the existing structure are viable, or whether a longer-term solution is needed, including full replacement.

“The closure of the boardwalk means it is now a higher priority within a programme of around 146 larger works across the path network.

"The timescale for reopening the path depends on a range of factors, including obtaining Natural England consent for any works within the Berrow Dunes Site of Special Scientific Interest, funding sources, ground conditions, and the availability of suitable contractors.

“In the meantime unfortunately, the public are prohibited from using the boardwalk, and anyone who continues to use it is doing so at their own risk.”