Somerset Council's highways teams are confronting unexpected challenges as they work to complete planned maintenance and improvements in Bruton, leading to changes in the summer roadworks programme.

The delay in the programme stems from several unforeseen issues. On the first day of work this summer, asbestos was discovered underneath a traffic island on High Street. Later that week, a sinkhole appeared in a separate part of High Street, prompting a suspension of works and a reopening of Coombe Street to ease pressure on the network. During this time, the asbestos was successfully removed and disposed of.

Further complications arose when utilities were found to be shallower in the road surface than anticipated, necessitating careful workarounds. The team also stumbled upon a historic drainage system beneath the road. Efforts to preserve this old infrastructure, along with conservation efforts in partnership with South West Heritage, have added complexity to the work.

The updated schedule for road closures is as follows:

- Friday 25 August, High Street closed from 9.30am to 11.30pm

- High Street open from Saturday 26 August to Monday 28 August

- From Tuesday 29 August to Friday 1 September, High Street closed from 9.30am to 11.30pm, plus partial closures of Quaperlake Street and Coombe Street during these hours

- Planned resurfacing scheme on Patwell Street between 6pm and 11.30pm excluding weekends, running from Thursday 25 August to Wednesday 30 August

- From Sunday 3 September to Tuesday 5 September, High Street closed 24/7 for Wales and West Utilities and reopens in time for the start of business on Wednesday 6 September

Councillor Mike Rigby, Somerset Council's Executive Lead Member for Transport and Digital, said: "Firstly, thank you to everyone in and around Bruton for their patience and co-operation. We appreciate this has been challenging for all concerned. These works have not been easy to deliver for a variety of reasons, but the team is working as swiftly and as safely as they can to get everything done, and to bring disruption to traffic in Bruton to an end."