'No-man's land' potholes left due to 'anomaly'

The amount of potholes on a key road are increasing because it falls on the border of two counties and local authorities are not taking responsibility, a council has said.

Neither Wiltshire and Somerset councils are accepting reports for an unclassified road near Pen Selwood, a short distance from Wincanton and Stourhead.

Ian Steadman, Pen Selwood parish councillor, said: "I think it's bizarre that we have literally a no-man's land section of road which no-one is accepting responsibility for."

Wiltshire Council spokesperson acknowledged the "anomaly" and confirmed the authority's highways team will schedule a survey of the route. Somerset Council has been approached for comment.

Steadman said he has been trying to report the potholes of varying size and depth since August, but without success.

"I can report damage at one end to Somerset Council, and at the other end to Wiltshire Council, but neither is accepting responsibility for this bit in the middle," he said.

He added that the situation is "frustrating" as residents ask him to take action but no authority is taking responsibility.

"In the 21st Century, with the mapping we have, I find it incredible to think that somebody is not clear about where their boundary is," he added.

Councillor Martin Smith, cabinet member for highways at Wiltshire Council confirmed the road lies directly on the border between Wiltshire and Somerset, "and in some places even crosses over it".

"We are aware that this is an anomaly in our reporting system," he said.

"We are currently investigating how we can correct this, so the process is more accurate and user‑friendly," he added.

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