Pothole on Eastfield Road in Andover prompts safety concerns

The hole, on Eastfield Road in Andover, has drawn concerns from Test Valley councillor Iris Andersen, who represents the St Marys ward in the town, who described its size and potential danger to the public.

Potholes in the Test Valley area have become an increasingly talked about topic through the winter months despite figures showing that this years situation is not as disastrous as years gone by.

She said: "I can actually stand in this pot hole. I mentioned about reporting potholes but some people are seeing nothing being done.

"Some are very dangerous, so we've all got a duty of care and I've got a duty of care to make sure that we keep our residents safe and to make sure of things are supported when they get reported.

"Yes it's got the white lines round them and will have it for some time around the repair.

"I am very anxious to think this pothole started so little and now it has become bigger and reported many times"

Councillor Andersen said the issue is not isolated, and that other potholes in the area are contributing to vehicle damage.

She said the size and depth of the hole could pose serious risks, particularly to cyclists, scooter users, and motorcyclists.

She also questioned whether funding was being managed effectively, noting the large sums needed for repairs.

In response, Hampshire County Council said all reported potholes and road defects are assessed by its highways team.

A spokesman 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."

The public is encouraged to continue reporting potholes to help councils prioritise repairs.

A recent Test Valley Borough Council meeting on February 26 reinforced the importance of public reporting in identifying road hazards and supporting timely repairs.