Wiltshire’s roads “among best in England,” says government

By Local Democracy Reporter Peter Davison

Wiltshire’s roads are among the best-maintained in England, according to a new government report.

The Department for Transport has rated 154 local highways authorities across the country for fixing potholes and investing in preventative road maintenance.

Wiltshire is one of a handful of counties to be rated ‘green’. Most of the country is rated ‘amber’ with a few councils rated ‘red’.

Wiltshire Council says the green rating is recognition that the county “has been assessed as having good local road conditions, has provided additional investment into local highways maintenance, and has adopted best practice such as preventative maintenance and other innovative technologies.”

Cllr Martin Smith, Wiltshire Council’s cabinet member for highways, said: “We are delighted to receive this recognition from the Department for Transport, as it illustrates just how the hard work of our teams is paying off.

“We have committed to creating well-maintained, safer roads in Our Wiltshire Plan, and it is a top priority for us.

“This rating reflects the hard work and investment we’ve put into preventative maintenance and innovative solutions.

“Pothole reports have fallen by 28 per cent in the past year compared to 2024, and so we know our hard work is making a difference.

“However, we know there is so much more to do, particularly with the current adverse winter weather impacting our roads, and we will continue to build on this success to deliver the best possible road network for our residents and businesses, within our budget constraints.”

In September, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reported a spat between the ruling Liberal Democrat and ousted Conservative groups over pothole claims.

Conservative leader Richard Clewer branded the Lib Dems ‘hypocrites’ for heralding a 44 percent reduction in the number of complaints about potholes, with the Conservatives saying they had voted against additional funding to fix the roads.

But the Lib Dems said they were celebrating the work of the council – not claiming credit for themselves – and have accused the Conservatives of trying to score political points.

And in November the Local Democracy Reporting Service discovered that Wiltshire Council had paid more than half a million pounds to motorists over the past three years for potholes ruining motorists’ cars.

In 2022/3 the council settled 688 claims to the tune of £145,550. In 2023/4 £336,402 was paid in compensation against 1662 claims. And in 2024/5, 870 claims cost the council £133,644.

Over the same period the council spent £18,797,627 on pothole repairs in 2022/23 and £23,225,866 in 2023/4 to £34,893,749 in 2024/25.

The council is responsible for the maintenance of over 5,000 miles of roads.

To report a pothole, visit www.wiltshire.gov.uk/MyWilts

Pictured:  Bobcat filling potholes