Devizes potholes cause misery for motorists, councillor claims

A Devizes councillor has slammed Wiltshire Council for the town’s “unsafe” roads and pavements, saying the surfacing issues pose a real risk of danger.

The problem areas include London Road, Bath Road and Windsor Drive.

London Road is damaged in multiple places. (Image: Newsquest)

Cllr Jonathan Hunter said: “I think it’s gone beyond potholes to be honest. It sounds a bit facetious, but there’s more potholes than road now.

“There are three areas of key concern in Devizes. London Road is the main road coming in and out and that isn’t great at all.

“Bath Road and also Windsor Drive, which is an interconnecting road, the surface degradation on those roads is really poor.”

As well as the issue of potholes, Cllr Hunter is concerned damaged pavements are reducing the accessibility and safety of the town for vulnerable pedestrians.

He claims he recently helped a disabled man using a rollator, who was struggling to navigate a pothole ridden path on Windsor Drive.

A Devizes pavement. (Image: Jonathan Hunter)

He added: “A lot of pavements in the town are in really poor shape. I just think it’s crazy, we’ve got to do better.

“Residents who are disabled, elderly and users of mobility scooters have great difficulty navigating certain footpaths.

“This affects pedestrians, cyclists, people with mobility scooters, motorcyclists. It’s a big challenge and a big concern.”

Mr Hunter has written to the council's cabinet member for transport, Cllr Caroline Thomas, as part of a campaign to raise awareness of the issue and “make positive things happen.”

Cllr Thomas insists the council is doing all it can to repair the road network but has been hampered by weather conditions over the last year.

She said: “The hot, dry summer of last year, and the very wet and very cold weather so far this winter has unfortunately created the perfect conditions for potholes to form across the 2,500-mile road network.

“We’re doing all we can to repair them, using all our skilled workforce and resources, with the priority being to make the road safe.

“We have also enlisted 18 parish stewards, asking them to focus on solely fixing the potholes in their areas.

“Deeper potholes will require attention more urgently and will be prioritised. Temporary repairs can last many years and enable stewards to fill as many as 100 each week.

A damaged section of road just off London Road. (Image: Newsquest)

“Pavements are also subject to regular safety inspections, but we know problems such as broken kerb stones or uneven footways can occur between inspections and cause problems for pedestrians.”

Hazards can be reported using the MyWilts reporting system.