ROAD conditions across Wiltshire have improved substantially according to a new review presented by the cabinet member for Highways and Transport.

Councillor Phillip Whitehead told the Environment Select Committee on Tuesday how the Local Highways Investment Fund helped tackle 250km of road this year leading to better maintenance and fewer potholes.

In total 580km of road has been resurfaced out of the 4,400km in Wiltshire in the last three years.

Cllr Whitehead: "The extra £10m we received will only cover 150 miles of resurfacing every year and we have more than 3,000 miles of roads in Wiltshire so it will take some time.

"Some people will have seen an improvement and some people will not. For instance if you drive from Rowde to Dunkirk Hill, you will agree with the report.

"Right through the 70s, 80s and 90s, there was a lack of investment in the roads across the UK and we are reaping the rewards of that now.

"This report shows that we know our roads inside out and back to front. There is a difference between the road condition and pot holes and we are really concerned about the conditions of the roads. We will always get potholes in Wiltshire."

In October 2013 the council's cabinet agreed to increase highway maintenance funding to £21 million for six years.

Its new report says that some sections of road were so poor that "substantial reconstruction work" meant that the council didn't meet the target distance for maintenance that year.

In 2014/15 the council estimates that it treated 148km (92 miles) of road compared to 182km (113m) in 2015/16 and is on course to treat 250km (155m) in 2016/17.

The council's new report says: "The increased investment in highways maintenance has enabled a large number of schemes to be progressed to improve the condition of the network and its infrastructure."

It says: "A total of 580 kilometres of road has been resurfaced to date, and the council is currently on target to achieve the anticipated improvement by 2020, subject to funding continuing at current levels.

"There have also been a significant number of smaller sites treated with hand patching, which has addressed localised areas in poor condition."