POOR weather has caused at least £2m worth of damage to Wiltshire’s roads after floods led to the creation of numerous potholes.

Wiltshire Council has had to invest an extra £250,000 to repair the damage before the colder weather sets in. Four teams are currently out in force to repair the damage, armed with water-based road repair material which can be used even where potholes are still full of water, and work is being carried out to avoid disruption to the traffic.

John Thomson, cabinet member for highways, said: “The prolonged period of heavy rain and flooding has clearly damaged our road network – estimated at up to £2 million. The risk is that figure will increase rapidly and significantly if a forecast cold spell causes the water still in the potholes to freeze.

“Therefore, we are using the window of opportunity now that the worst of the flooding is abating to redeploy some of those teams to filling potholes, with the priority on those where there is a clear safety issue to road users.”

“Getting teams out repairing damage caused by the heavy rain is clearly a sensible thing to do in the short-term. However, the best way to reduce potholes is through long-term investment and that is why we are spending that additional £52 million over the next six years to ensure Wiltshire’s roads are not just maintained but improved.”