Council Leader refutes claims his administration wrongfully taking credit for potholes work
Cllr Ian Thorn is responding to suggestions his administration is claiming Conservatives work as their own
Last updated 9th Sep 2025
The Leader of Wiltshire Council has rejected claims his administration is taking credit for work done by the previous leadership group.
Former Leader, Cllr Richard Clewer, made the suggestion in the wake of the authority revealing fewer potholes being reported on Wiltshire's roads in the first half of 2025, compared to the same period in 2024.
But Cllr Ian Thorn has refuted that accusation, insisting it's down to the hard work of the Highways team.
He said: “At no point have I or any of my Cabinet colleagues attempted to take the credit for this improvement in Wiltshire’s roads. I have made it clear that this is down to the professionalism of our Highways teams and contractors, and their hard work should be celebrated."
The Council Leader added that it is "fantastic" to see roads are in a better condition, with reports having fallen by 44% between January and July this year.
"We hope this trend continues over the winter months," Cllr Thorn said. "This is a great start but we know there is much more to do, and that’s why we are committed to continuing to improve the county’s highways network."