Shrewton potholes and traffic creating 'huge problem' for residents

The surface of the B3086 High Street has been left in disrepair and it sees high traffic as motorists are diverted away from the A303, according to a council leader.

Large potholes are dotted along the stretch of road and filler has spilled out onto the pavement, creating a "huge problem".

Councillor Richard Harris, chairman of Shrewton Parish Council, said there have been complaints about the road's condition for "a very long time", adding: "The road surface was never designed for the amount of road traffic that is on it."

READ MORE: A345 pothole: Woman expects to pay £1000 in car repairs

Cllr Harris believes many of the problems plaguing the High Street have been caused by "rat-running" following the closure of the A344 in 2013.

Pothole in the middle of Shrewton High Street. (Image: Newsquest)

At a meeting on May 10, 2011, Cllr Peter Sweet raised concerns for the community about the road being insufficient to carry "large amounts of traffic" after it was proposed to close the A344.

Two years later the road, which ran from Andover to Warminster, was permanently closed.

There is a 3.5-tonne limit on heavy goods vehicles traveling along the High Street but Cllr Harris said this doesn't apply to coaches that frequently use the road.

"It's just totally and utterly out of control. The traffic here is absolutely dreadful and we're the unfortunate ones who get caught up in it," added Cllr Harris.

Wiltshire Council has seen an increase in potholes following the dry and hot summer and then the recent cold snap and said it is "working hard" to respond to them.

18 Parish Stewards across the region have been tasked to patch potholes.

Cllr Harris said it is a "constant battle" for the Shrewton steward as the fixes are only temporary.

He added: "The council wants to use micro asphalt for the resurfacing work. It’s gone way beyond that now.

"Within a few months the road is going to be full of potholes again."

Cllr Dr Mark McClelland, cabinet member for transport, said: “The weather has provided the perfect conditions for potholes to form, and that’s why we’re seeing an increase in the number of road defects throughout the county.

“Because the weather is so wet, in many cases our teams will patch the hole as a temporary fix, and then, later in the year, more permanent repairs will take place when conditions are more favourable."

Potholes can be reported online through MyWilts.