'It’s like driving in a third world country down that road', residents frustrated by state of Andover Road
The deteriorating state of an important A-road in North Hampshire has angered residents after numerous potholes have damaged several cars in recent weeks.
The A343, better known as the Andover Road, passes by Woolton Hill and through Highclere going southward after it crosses underneath the A34.
Several North Hampshire residents who live in close proximity to the road have become frustrated with the state of it, calling on Hampshire County Council to completely re-surface the damaged carriageway.
Ball Hill resident John Watson said: “It’s like driving in a third world country down that road.”
Highclere Parish Council member James Leeson said that the Andover Road has “always been in a relatively poor condition” but in the last six weeks “it has gone over the edge”.
He said: “Other councillors and I have added up double digit vehicles that we have physically seen at the side of the road having their tyres repaired.”
Woolton Hill residents Sue and Mark Hetherton were travelling to the Midlands via the A343 to spread Mark’s mother’s ashes on Tuesday, March 21.
They had to swerve around a “great lump” of tarmac with a cat’s eye attached that had become detached from the road surface and it took them nearly an hour to get in contact with Hampshire County Council to report the hazard.
Mrs Hetherton wondered why it had taken the council so long to resurface the road and asked: “Are they going to wait until somebody’s killed?”
East Woodhay Parish Council member Mark Rand said: “You get rain, it covers the area and you have no idea of the depth of those potholes that are still in the road.
“People are weaving in and out to avoid them. There is an accident waiting to happen.”
Two weeks ago, Hampshire County Council closed the road for a few days to fill in some of the more troublesome potholes, but this approach has also been met with criticism.
Mr Rand said: “They’re spending money instead of addressing the root cause of the problem. They’re having to cover little bits and pieces before doing it again a few weeks later.
Mrs Hetherton added: “It’s a false economy with our hard-earned money.”
Mr Rand continued: “That section needs to be properly resurfaced rather than patching, and we need a date of when it’s going to happen.”
Fellow parish councillor Graham Dick said: “Despite frequent reports to Hampshire County Council, the number of potholes in the roads and lanes of our parish has been steadily increasing over time.
“Added to this, we have repeatedly reported the steady and now unacceptable deterioration of the main A343 highway between Penwood and the A34.
“This has posed an increasing hazard to all those in the parish, for whom it is an essential route, as well as to those service and delivery vehicles which use it daily.
“We appreciate that we are not the only Hampshire parish with such regrettable issues, but we will continue to fight for recognition such that the essential needs of this northern corner of the county are not forgotten.”
After reaching out to Hampshire county councillor Tom Thacker (Con, Whitchurch and The Cleres), one resident confirmed that Mr Thacker had escalated the matter to the relevant cabinet member.
Hampshire County Council has been approached for comment.
