Andover schools raise concerns about long-standing potholes

Knights Enham Schools have raised concerns about the condition of King Arthur’s Way, warning that the road outside the school has been in a potentially dangerous state for at least five years.

The road runs through the King Arthur’s Way estate and passes directly outside the school.

It is used daily by pupils, staff, buses and local residents.

The school says the road is affected by potholes, uneven surfaces and poorly finished repairs, creating risks during busy drop-off and pick-up times.

Executive headteacher Mr Daniel Whitehouse said the road’s condition has been a long-standing concern.

He said: “I don’t think the road has ever been particularly great.

“We’ve raised concerns with the council for years and, if anything has been done, it’s only been short-term fixes.

“I just feel that with it being outside a school – just like outside a hospital or a fire station – it should surely be a priority. It’s getting out of hand.

“It’s getting so unsafe.”

Mr Whitehouse added that there have been incidents involving cars swerving to avoid potholes, increasing the risk to children crossing the road.

Most children attending Knights Enham Schools need to cross King Arthur’s Way with their parents or carers.

The site also includes a nursery for children as young as two, meaning the road is regularly used by very young children.

The school has also raised concerns for wheelchair users and those with buggies navigating the damaged surface.

Admin officer Miss Joanna Trace said she has been in contact with the council for around five years and was previously told the road was due to be resurfaced.

She said: “The potholes are getting worse and the road is full of lumps and bumps.

Miss Joanna Trace with infant school pupils (Image: Daniel Quina Brito)

“People are trying to cross with buggies and wheelchairs, and the road markings outside the school are fading.

“We were advised to log the potholes online, which we did, but the cases were closed.

“They’re saying they don’t meet the criteria, even though some are the size of dinner plates.”

Miss Trace added that previous repairs have left raised areas of tarmac, which have since become tripping hazards.

She said: “The whole road needs resurfacing and levelling properly.”

The school has created a petition, which is currently being reviewed by the Government Petitions Department.

Hampshire County Councillor and Test Valley Borough Councillor Chris Donnelly said King Arthur’s Way is now being assessed for full resurfacing.

He said: “After a conversation with highways, they have agreed it should be considered for a full resurface.

“Engineers are assessing it, and a decision is expected in March at the start of the new financial year. I will continue to push for the work to be carried out as quickly as possible.”

A spokesperson for Hampshire County Council said: “All potholes and road defects identified through routine inspections or reported online are assessed by our highways team and we always prioritise issues that are deemed a safety risk, particularly on busier roads.  

"When reporting online, residents are given an individual reference number and are able to check on progress of repairs via the County Council’s website.

“It is important to remind people that our Highways team looks after more than 5,500 miles of road and over 4,200 miles of footways across the county, and we invest many millions annually in maintaining these.

"Road maintenance continues to be a top priority, and we know it is a key concern for road users.

"So far this financial year, we’ve repaired in excess of 62,000 highway defects, including potholes, investing £55.9 million in maintaining Hampshire’s extensive road network during this period.”