Wiltshire Council releasing £10 million to tackle local road issues
A new RAC report ranks the state of local roads as drivers' top concern
Wiltshire Council have told us that they’re using £10 million of reserve funding to ensure our local roads are up to scratch.
It follows the RAC’s 2023 annual Report on Motoring, where the condition of local roads topped drivers concerns.
Two-thirds of drivers told the RAC that local roads had deteriorated, while 35% said they’d had to swerve to avoid a pothole.
Wiltshire Council Leader Richard Clewer told us it is frustrating that the government funding comes in February, meaning it is hard to plan for the new year.
“At the moment we have this piece meal process where government gives us money every year.
“We never get clarity for years ahead. We all pay road tax, there should be a pretty clear stream of money from that is set aside by government to fix the road network.”
Cllr Clewer told us that his administration’s ethos is to take preventive measures to roads as local roads are crucial for the county.
“We haven't got a public transport infrastructure cycling. If we're a big county, cycling is not going to work for most people.
“So, we have absolutely got to have a good Rd network because it's critical to our economy.”
He added that while £10 million might seem like a lot of money, but with roads it’s not.
Cllr Clewer said the council’s aim was to prolong the life of road surfaces, with lower cost interventions, that can give up to another 10 years on the life of the road.
RAC Spokesperson Rod Dennis told Greatest Hits Radio that council’s need better support from the government.
“As a Council at the moment you're in a very difficult position. You're having to justify spending decisions on all sorts of things, and unfortunately, when it comes to big decisions around spending on education, adult social care, these sorts of things, the roads always lose out.
“The fact that (local roads) is the number one issue just really goes right to the heart of the problem.
“Hopefully sends a very strong message to government, that they need to do more to support councils and getting local ways up to a much better standard.”