New council leader urges patience on potholes

The new leader of Wiltshire Council has asked for voters' patience when it comes to resolving the county's potholes.

Ian Thorn told BBC Radio Wiltshire that it would take "at least two or three years to make a really positive difference".

During a wide ranging interview he also said that his administration is "absolutely committed" to meeting the previous council's target for carbon neutrality by 2030 and that 1,000 council houses will be built in 10 years.

Mr Thorn is the first Liberal Democrat leader of the council, having struck a deal with independents, following the recent local elections in which no party gained overall control.

Potholes were a leading issue prior to the local election in May, but Mr Thorn said that there is no quick solution to fixing the pothole situation.

"I would hope we'd notice a difference in the next two or three years, but I'm just trying to be realistic, so I'm not going to say next month, or in three week's time," he said.

"I'm going to give myself at least two or three years to make a really positive difference."

In 2019, Wiltshire Council declared a climate emergency and committed to a target of 2030, for the county to reach carbon neutrality.

Mr Thorn said that despite the change in governance, he was committed to achieving the goal in five years time.

"We are, as an administration, absolutely clear about the challenges that we face, not just today or tomorrow, but over the next decades, in terms of the impact of the climate emergency," he said.

Regarding housing, Mr Thorn said that more houses were needed, even if it meant borrowing money.

"I certainly intend that we'll build a thousand council houses and I'd like to stick to the 10 year target," he said.

He added that he would like to build more, even if it would require borrowing more money.

Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.