Council increases its investment into filling potholes, resurfacing roads and tackling highways flooding

Tuesday, 27 February 2024 00:00

Wiltshire Council is investing millions of pounds into filling potholes, resurfacing roads, and tackling the causes of highways flooding throughout the county in 2024/25.

The council has allocated an extra £10m over the next two years to spend on filling potholes and a road resurfacing programme that will help to prevent potholes and other highway defects across all areas of the county. The investment will also fund more small, local repairs to verges on rural roads.

This funding is in addition to the £20.7m the council receives from the Government’s Highways Maintenance fund for 2024/25, plus the £5.2m from the Department for Transport’s recently announced Road Resurfacing Fund following the cancellation of HS2.

The council also allocated an extra £1m in its recent budget for emptying gullies around the county to prevent flooding and enable teams to focus on problem areas that are most at risk – on top of the £1.27m the council already spends on gully emptying.

Cllr Caroline Thomas, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “While other councils around the county are cutting budgets, we are investing millions into the everyday things that matter to people, such as filling potholes, resurfacing roads and emptying gullies to help prevent road flooding. And that is on top of the tens of millions we already spend on these highways issues with Government grants.

“We have also recently invested more than £1.5m into painting white lines, renewing road signs, tackling fly-tipping and cleaning up litter – because we know that these are the things that people care about, and they’re the small things that improve their communities and make travelling that little bit easier.

“This is all part of our Business Plan commitment to have vibrant, well-connected communities and to invest in our highways network.

“The changes won’t happen overnight but, over the coming months, people in all areas of the county will see more resurfacing work, more potholes filled and more gullies emptied as this multi-million pound investment starts to bear fruit.”

To find out more about potholes, how they are filled and the council prioritises its work, people can watch the council’s potholes webinar at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5NOhbFdKSU

To report potholes and other highways defects, people should go to: www.wiltshire.gov.uk/mywilts

More from Local News

Tributes paid to Stuart Withers after fatal accident in Salisbury

Tributes are being paid to Stuart Withers, who was knocked down and killed in an accident in Salisbury yesterday (22nd November) morning.
Salisbury's match against Maidstone United is ON

Salisbury's match against Maidstone United this afternoon is ON!
Shops tested on 'Challenge 25 policy' when selling knives

Almost 60% of shops visited by during a week of action focusing on knife crime passed the 'Challenge 25 policy' and didn't sell knives or bladed articles to under-age shoppers.
SEND families invited to online meeting to hear updates on SEND support

Wiltshire Council is inviting families of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) to participate in an online session as part of the consultation on the funding for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).
Longleat closed today due to bad weather

Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire will be closed today (Saturday 23 November) due to the forecast of strong winds.
Salisbury MP visits local primary school

Salisbury's MP has visited Winterbourne Earls Primary School and answered children's questions on a range of subjects.
Man in his 70s dies after Exeter Street collision

A man in his 70s has sadly died following a road traffic collision in Salisbury City Centre this morning (22nd November).
Weather Warning: Salisbury set for Heavy Rain this weekend

The Met Office has put a yellow weather warning in place across the area thanks to Storm Bert.