CHEW Magna’s High Street will be closed until the end of August as Bath and North East Somerset Council look to continue with its footway improvement programme.

Over the last two years the council has doubled its investment into footway improvements to make it easier and safer for those walking and wheeling and to encourage more active forms of travel.

High Street (B3130) in Chew Magna will close to all vehicles between its junctions with Harford Square and Battle Lane from July 28 until August 29.

The improvements, supported by local ward members and the Chew Magna Parish Council, will repair and make level the traditional pennant slab footway which has become uneven and damaged over time due to vehicle overrun.

Any broken slabs will be replaced, and a large section of asphalt footway will be replaced with reclaimed pennant slabs.

Due to the narrow width of the highway, a 24/7 closure of the road is needed so the council can maintain pedestrian movements and safety, as well as the safety of the team doing the work.

The council anticipates around 20 weeks of work is needed to complete the footway improvement scheme and has decided to carry out the work in multiple phases over the next few years. They have planned the first phase to coincide with the school summer holidays to minimise disruption.

Works will start from the junction of Chew Street and Harford Square. Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times via a barriered walkway; cyclists will need to dismount. As works progress sections of footway will be reopened where possible.

Local residents and businesses have been contacted directly.

Councillor Lucy Hodge, cabinet member for sustainable transport delivery, said: “The overall condition of the footway along High Street, which is mostly traditional pennant slabs, has deteriorated over time and become uneven in places.

“We want to make it easier and safer to walk and wheel in Chew Magna by improving the footway, whilst maintaining its charm.

“We considered all options on how best carry out this work and consulted with the Parish Council before deciding that breaking the work up into phases was the most suitable.”

Advanced notices and diversion routes for traffic will be in place leading up to and during the works. Diversion routes for these and all other roadworks can be seen on one.network. The X91 Chew Valley to Bristol (Chew Valley Sprint) bus service will be unaffected by these works.

The WESTlocal Route 99 will be affected, and diversions and disruptions can be seen on the Big Lemon website.

The footway improvement scheme at High Street will coincide with essential gas main replacement works at nearby Silver Street, carried out by Wales & West Utilities. These works have also been co-ordinated by the council to also take place over the school holiday period to minimise disruption and will not adversely affect vehicles travelling through Chew Magna.

The programme has so far made improvements to 75,000m2 of highway across Bath & North East Somerset.