Surrey County Council has driven a hard bargain to save taxpayers £200,000 a year on a deal to paint road markings.

At a meeting of the Cabinet on Tuesday, 30 March, members agreed to award Wilson and Scott the £1.5 million-a-year contract that will begin on 28 April.

The firm will be responsible for painting all Surrey's road markings including yellow lines, pedestrian crossings and lane markers for the next six years with the opportunity to extend the deal for a further four years.

The new contract will ensure fresh markings are painted on all A, B and C roads over four years.

Ian Lake, Surrey County Council's Cabinet Member for Transport, said: "Value for money is at the heart of everything we do which is why we were determined to make sure we got the very best deal for Surrey residents. We're pleased Wilson and Scott came up with a bid that met our high standards at less cost than the previous deal.

"Safety will be increased because the terms of the contract mean road markings will be painted more regularly than before. This will also make our streets look smarter."

Stephen Scott, Managing Director of Wilson and Scott, said: "We are very pleased to have secured this contract after detailed negotiations with the council. We are a local business with a national presence that employs over 30 staff who are residents of Surrey so they are also happy to be part of the county drive to improve safety on their roads. Because we are a local business and through our use of new lower polluting vehicles, we will also help to reduce the carbon footprint of the council's highways operation."