I hope 2023 has started positively for everyone and despite the miserable weather, the evenings are getting a little lighter each day. If, like me, you have younger children you will be used to the countdown to Christmas starting at the beginning of September – allow me to cheer you up by saying, at the time of writing this, there are only 61 sleeps until Spring and even less by the time you’re reading it!
As is always the case in winter, our roads are suffering hugely from heavy rain followed by freezing temperatures which cause any cracks in the road surface to explode. Parish Stewards and the Highways teams are constantly moving across the area patching-up potholes to keep the roads useable. I speak to many people who view this work as a “bodge job” and miss the point that this is exactly what it is designed to be. Temporary pothole repairs are carried out to get us through another six months until our roads reach the top of the county-wide resurfacing programme schedule. This schedule is a public document and provides a target date for large scale “proper” resurfacing repairs across the area. If you would like a copy of the document, drop me an email and I will forward it to you.
The most important thing where potholes are concerned is to use the recently updated MyWilts app or website to report them (or any other issue you spot). I reported two potholes using the app last week and within 48 hours the team had come out and fixed them. Not only does the app highlight issues, it allows us to retrospectively analyse data. I am keen to hold third-party contractors to account where road surfacing appears to be of poor quality. Being able to look back at the number of potholes reported in a specific section of road over the last year is a vital tool.
If you didn’t see the Gazette & Herald article about Black Dog or the BBC Points West coverage you surely can’t have missed discussions on Facebook! This last month I continued to lobby our Highways officers, the previous Cabinet member for Highways and his replacement, Cllr Caroline Thomas, and the Police & Crime Commissioner. It is clear to me that a speed reduction through the junction needs to be implemented alongside other proposed changes. Wiltshire Police is being consulted on a speed reduction to 40mph which all seven surrounding parish councils support.
I hope the Police will take note of recent incidents at the junction and see that reduced speed is a logical piece of the puzzle. In almost all cases, incidents are caused by people pulling out from the side roads in front of oncoming vehicles on the A360. Improving the angle of approach of the side roads, and the visibility splays, will help drivers better judge whether traffic is approaching on the A360 from either direction. If A360 traffic was moving at 100mph it would be impossible to safely judge whether it is safe to pull out. Likewise, if traffic was moving at 5mph it would be very easy. The logic follows therefore, that it is safer pulling out within a 40mph limit than within a 50mph limit. I have to say that Wiltshire Police has shown a renewed willingness to support us across the area recently and so I wait with hope for a positive response.
You may contact me about this or any other matter by email to dominic.muns@wiltshire.gov.uk or by phone on 07585 394 178.
