Somerset Council has been working with North Somerset Council on a range of schemes to improve the A38 between the M5 and Bristol Airport, in a bid to shorten journey times, cut congestion and improve road safety. Following the news that Centregreat was in line to deliver the Edithmead scheme, reports surfaced on social media that the A38 programme would be scrapped by central government in order to increase defence spending. But Somerset Council has strongly denied that this is the case - with the Department for Transport (DfT) expected to approve the final business case in the coming months. Somerset Council confirmed in a short statement that Mr Starmer's announcement - which will be implemented by his successor Andy Burnham - would not jeopardise the funding of the Edithmead scheme or the wider programme of A38 improvements in Somerset. A spokesperson said: "The funding of the A38 major road network schemes will not be impacted by this announcement."