SOMERSET Council has launched a new partnership to help "refresh" the region's highways.

The £225m contract between Somerset Council and Kier began on April 1. It covers key maintenance work on the county's 4,172-mile road network, including road repairs, drainage, verge cutting and winter service.

Kier, which supports environmentally friendly practices, scored highly for value for money following a comprehensive tendering process.

It is hoped that the company's commitment to sustainability will help the council in its own goals to make Somerset greener and more sustainable.

Many of the experienced staff currently operating under the previous contract have transferred to Kier.

At an induction event held at Bridgwater's Canalside Centre earlier this week, Somerset Council’s lead member for Transport and Digital, councillor Richard Wilkins, was introduced to the Kier team.

Councillor Wilkins said: “We’re really delighted to have Kier as our new partner maintaining our network – they have some exciting proposals about taking the service further in terms of flexibility and efficiency whilst delivering carbon reduction and maximising social value for our communities.

“This is a major refresh of our network maintenance services. We are committed to building in resilience to climate change, ensuring a safe, serviceable and sustainable network that is fit for purpose for all users and supports the growth of the local economy.

“It’s really vital we have a service that is cost effective, as well as being flexible and agile, attracting the best people and embracing new technologies to enable innovation.”

Allan Rigby, general manager at Kier Transportation, added: “Following our appointment in October, we have been working hard to mobilise the contract so that we can deliver a first-class road maintenance contract from day one.

“We look forward to seeing how we can bring added value to the area, through our carbon reduction plans and delivering social value for our communities.

"This will be through us supporting the local economy by using local supplies and SMEs, as well as providing career opportunities for those in the area.”

Four other multi-million-pound contracts covering resurfacing, surface dressing, new assets and lighting have also been awarded.