Filling in the gaps on the roads of Swindon

Swindon Borough Council has shared its latest information about pothole repairs.

The council says roads can become damaged through heavy use, causing water to pass through cracks, which can create a hole.

Not all damage is defined as a pothole. Using a consistent measurement criteria for road damage helps to prioritise potholes and less urgent repairs.

Although the council’s highways team always considers the location of damage and the hazard it could create, a pothole is generally defined as damage that is deeper than 40mm.

Only defects that are deeper than 40mm and present a high risk to safety will be prioritised for an urgent pothole repair, as this depth is needed to make sure the material used for the repair doesn’t break up under the heavy weight of vehicles.

Shallower depths of damage may need different types of repair, such as a patch repair, which requires more planning and potential road closures. Alternatively, shallower damage may be monitored and a repair arranged if necessary.

Residents may sometimes report what they think is a pothole, but it falls outside of the investigation criteria. Around 16 per cent of the pothole reports the council receives are actually different types of damage, which will still be investigated and repaired if needed.

The council has set a target to repair 90 per cent of new potholes within five working days and all new potholes within 10 days. On average, it currently takes the council around three-and-a-half days to repair a new pothole.

Full details can be found on the council's website at www.swindon.gov.uk/potholes