Laboratory wins praise with accreditation tag

A Flax Bourton laboratory has achieved national accreditation after passing tests.

North Somerset Council’s highways material testing was praised for the work it does by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS).

The laboratory plays an important role in ensuring the materials used to build roads in North Somerset are both safe and durable.

Cllr Elfan Ap Rees, executive member for the district’s roads, said the work carried out in Flax Bourton has helped ensure taxpayers receive a good deal.

He said: “North Somerset is one of only a few local authorities to have our own materials laboratory and this UKAS accreditation shows that the systems and methods we use in the lab meet the relevant British and European standards.

“Having our own laboratory means that we have access to highly skilled engineers who can interpret research results and investigate issues – a service that would be very costly for us to buy in from a consultant.

“There have been instances where, because of the work done by the laboratory, we’ve been able to show that a failure in road material has been down to the contractor who laid it, meaning the cost of replacement falls on them and not on the North Somerset Council taxpayer.”​

The laboratory also assists Bristol city and South Gloucestershire councils too.