Neighbouring villages will see significant road improvements this summer as part of Somerset Council's extensive surface dressing programme.

This initiative aims to enhance road safety and longevity by applying a bitumen and stone chippings coating to existing surfaces.

Villages including Meare, Butleigh, Baltonsborough, and West Pennard, are set to benefit from these upgrades.

Specific roads like Back Lane near Baltonsborough and Harepits Lane in Butleigh will be treated to improve travel conditions for residents and visitors alike.

Councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for transport and digital, said: "We are delighted to welcome the Kiely Bros team on board. Surface dressing and surface treatments are critically important in keeping our highways running efficiently and Kiely Bros have a fantastic record for innovation, efficiency and cost-effectiveness."

Kiely Bros., a Birmingham-based company, has been awarded a four-year contract starting April 1 to carry out these works. They will employ their 'multipatcher' technology, designed to perform small-scale surface dressing and repair minor defects with minimal traffic disruption​​.

Surface dressing is a nationally recognised maintenance technique that seals the road, improves skid resistance, and prevents water from penetrating the surface, thereby reducing the formation of potholes.

This method involves coating the road with bitumen, covering it with stone chippings, and then rolling it to ensure durability and safety.

The programme is flexible due to its reliance on dry weather, which means dates for specific sections may change at short notice. Among the main roads included in the 2024 programme are the A37 Fosse Way between Babcary and Lydford-on-Fosse and several sections of the A38 between Highbridge and Bristol Airport​​.

For more details on each of the surface dressing schemes visit Somerset County Council.