Residents in Somerset are facing unprecedented neglect of their roads under the current Liberal Democrat administration. Since the Liberal Democrats took control of Somerset Council in May 2022, the condition of our roads has deteriorated significantly, leaving countless potholes and safety defects unaddressed.
The figures speak for themselves. In May 2022, when the Conservatives left County Hall, there were 1,038 outstanding safety defects and potholes. Fast forward to May 2024, under Liberal Democrat control, this number has skyrocketed to 5,944. This represents an astonishing 472.8% increase in total outstanding safety defects and potholes from May 2022 to May 2024. These statistics highlight a clear failure by the Liberal Democrats to provide a basic service that residents expect and deserve.
There are claims that Somerset Council have even told residents in Watchet to fix their own potholes. As reported in the County Gazette, Residents including a 101-year-old claimed that Somerset Council told them to fill the potholes on their road themselves.
*Living on the street is one Somerset’s oldest residents, 101-year-old Sheila Nicholls, who lives with her husband Brian. Brian said: "They said we could do the work ourselves and fix them - absurd. "We are all elderly residents and don't have that kind of money. "How can you tell a 101-year-old to fill their own potholes?*
Councillor Diogo Rodrigues, Opposition Spokesman for Transport and Digital said, "Under the Liberal Democrat administration Somerset's roads have become an obstacle course of potholes and safety hazards. The sheer increase in unrepaired defects just shows how incapable they are in handling basic services. The residents of Somerset deserve better."
Despite receiving substantial government funding for road repairs, the Liberal Democrats have not managed to improve the situation. Since 2022, Somerset Council has received significant additional funds, including £4.997 million for highways maintenance and pothole repair and over £7 million specifically for road resurfacing and maintenance. However, these funds have not translated into tangible improvements for the county’s road users.
