RESIDENTS of Gastons Road in Malmesbury have reported a pothole measuring eighteen inches by fifteen inches to Wiltshire County Council.

The three inch deep hole has been patched in previous months but has since been reopened and could pose a threat to cyclists and motorbikes if not repaired.

This monster pothole is only one of around fifteen logged in and around Malmesbury on fillthathole.org, which is operated by the Cyclist’s Touring Club (CTC).

Rankings for the council’s record of fixing potholes on CTC’s website suggest that less than a quarter of potholes are actually fixed by the council, with 926 hazards still listed.

Wiltshire County Council said that they could not comment on the specifics of the matter but insisted they were doing more than ever to tackle damaged roads.

A spokesperson for the council said “We’re spending more on potholes than we ever have, with over £21million being spent on road repairs over the next six years.

“We are encouraging people to go to their local area boards who set the priorities for a particular area.”

See also letters, page 61.