Road improvements in the Midsomer Norton and Radstock areas have been protected from Central Government cuts.

More than £6.7million of investment into improving roads, transport and public spaces in 2010 /11 is set to be confirmed by Bath and North East Council.

And according to the council, every part of the planned road surface improvement investment has been protected from the reductions. The overall programme covers transport projects by the council to improve pedestrian safety, boost cycling, improve transport access, promote walking to school as a more attractive option and improve road surfaces.

In June, the Coalition Government announced it was reducing the road funding available to the council by 2010/11 by £654,000 meaning investment has had to be prioritised in the projects that residents and councillors see as being most important.

Cabinet member for Service Delivery, Councillor Charles Gerrish, said that local people and parish councils had been telling Bath and North East Somerset that the standard of road surfaces were a key priority.

He said: "Despite Central Government funding reductions, the council has protected every part of our planned road surface improvement programme while keeping the local transport initiatives that communities tell us they most want. By investing money in resurfacing and surface dressing to cover 10 per cent of our network we are saving money in the future on more costly reactive repairs."

The council made a £2.5million cash injection to improve road conditions bringing the total amount invested on road and pavement surface improvements in 2010/11 to more than £8.5million.

Communities that will benefit include Clutton where there will be a puffin crossing on the A37, and the provision of a footway on Bristol Road, Chew Stoke.

Also included in the package is provision for traffic calming at Wellow, a cycle path between Northmead Road and Old Mills and a zebra crossing on the A367 at Maple Drive, Radstock and road build outs at Tunley.

Commitments have also been reaffirmed for the Five Arches project.