Rachael Rowe investigates how a festive protest finally got Belchalwell’s road repaired – and the story behind Dorset’s pothole problem
It took a Christmas tree to finally get a huge crater-like pothole fixed in Belchalwell. The hole had been causing havoc for motorists since last winter and accidents were only avoided because someone placed a large barrier around it.
Although the enormous hole had been reported numerous times, no one had got round to fixing it due to the demand on services elsewhere.
That is, until a helpful resident planted a Christmas tree in the pothole during October and posted a photo on social media. Naturally, the offending photo swiftly came to the attention of Dorset Council. A team was sent to investigate and immediately agreed that it was indeed awful!
The pothole is now fixed and the good people of Ibberton and Belchalwell have a smoother drive. But should it really take a Christmas tree to get a pothole mended? What caused the wait?
How potholes got their name
What did the Romans ever do for us? Apart from underground heating, gladiators, sanitation and, yes, the aqueduct, they also created roads. Beautiful, straight roads connecting towns across the Empire started appearing in Roman Britain in an attempt to modernise the place.
Local English tribes were quick to spot that the clay the Romans were using to fix the stones in the new roads was of particular high quality, and the potters soon paid attention. While the English tribes had little use for roads, the potters scooped up clay for their pots, leaving holes behind them … and that is how the pothole was born.
Today, at any time, there are thought to be more than a million potholes in Britain, according to the RAC. Last year was a mega year for potholes with more than 750,000 reported in 2023 by 60 per cent of local authorities (many more holes go ignored and unreported
by the public).
The RAC attended 29,300 breakdown incidents as a result of pothole damage to cars during 2023 in England. The plague of potholes has even driven Rod Stewart to filling in holes himself and considering selling his supercars.
Roads in the UK are so susceptible to potholes because of the wet, cold climate. Traffic levels also increase road wear, adding to the problem as roads are more likely to become damaged and cracked. Increased building, more cars and climate change bringing more adverse weather mean the problem will only increase.
The issues in Dorset
Dorset Council’s highways department, which includes an emergency team and gritting lorries, is constantly working to maintain the road network. The team found time between fixing problems caused by snow and Storm Bert to send a response to the BV Magazine. Councillor Jon Andrews, Dorset Council’s Cabinet Member for Place Services said:
‘Every year we maintain our whole road network (2,400 miles), fixing approximately 20,000 potholes across Dorset. At any given time, the number of potholes varies depending on factors such as weather conditions and road usage.
Our team prioritises repairs based on the pothole’s location, size, depth and the category of road it is on. A defect on an A-class road is addressed more quickly than one on a less heavily used road. ‘One of the key challenges is weather conditions – particularly the freeze-thaw cycle. Water enters small cracks in the road surface, and if it then freezes it expands, worsening the cracks and eventually leading to pothole formation.
‘Preventing this requires sealing road surfaces early, but this isn’t always possible across the entire network. The sheer scale of Dorset’s road network also presents logistical challenges. Balancing urgent repairs with preventative maintenance to avoid future damage requires careful planning and allocation of resources. We aim to repair high-risk potholes within 32 hours and complete most repairs within 28 days, whether they are identified by our inspection teams or reported by the public.’
Looking to the future
If potholes are on the increase because of weather conditions and high traffic volume, innovative solutions will be needed. The University of Surrey is conducting a research trial, led by Dr Benyi Can, into thermo-active treatments for roads. Dr Cao is working with National Highways to test using geothermal energy to keep road surfaces at a controlled temperature. Ground source heat pumps are being used to cool roads in summer and warm them in winter.
If successful, the work could provide a cost-effective solution to a significant challenge. Dr Cao says: ‘At the moment, a typical motorway or A-road surface lasts 20 years, but this is likely to reduce as extreme weather increases. By regulating the temperature of road surfaces, they should last significantly longer. Aside from the safety benefits and reduction to car damage, think of the reduction in expensive, inconvenient roadworks.’
In Dorset, the highways team has a busy time ahead. Councillor Andrews says: ‘By April 2025, we will have renewed or replaced more than 120 miles of road surfacing and fixed around 20,000 potholes across our network this year. This approach ensures we address both immediate hazards and long-term road durability, providing better value for money and improving road safety for all users. We appreciate the community’s assistance in reporting issues, helping us keep Dorset’s roads safe and well-maintained.’
To report a pothole in Dorset either go online at dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/report-a-problem-on-the-road-or-pavement or call the 24-hour hotline (01305 221020) for urgent issues.
