Icy patches on Wiltshire road causing 'dangerous' conditions

People in a Wiltshire village have called for more action, saying poor road maintenance has led to icy patches and accidents on a main road.

They say icy conditions on the B4192 at Aldbourne near Marlborough played a part in a crash which left a man with potentially life-changing injuries.

Local farmer William Brown said: "The council have failed to maintain the drainage - and it's dangerous."

Wiltshire Council said it does grit the "primary" road in icy conditions.

Mr Brown has farmed for generations on the fields next to the B-road.

He continued: "Every field has water on it on the left and the right of the road.

"The lowest part of the valley is the road so the water congregates there.

"If the culverts and drains were cleared, this [crash] wouldn't have happened."

Mr Brown's son, Henry, said: "People are driving far too fast on this stretch and not being careful.

"It is really worrying and it doesn't matter about the hedges and our fields being flooded - we just don't want people to be hurt."

Cllr Caroline Thomas, Cabinet Member for Transport at Wiltshire Council, said: "Road safety is of the utmost importance to us and as a primary route, the B4192 is always treated with grit when the temperature drops and there is a chance of ice.

"Unfortunately accidents are more frequent when the temperature drops and we always advise motorists to drive to the conditions and be aware of ice, even on treated roads."

Wiltshire Police said the accident, involving a van, happened on Monday at about 07.30 GMT on the road, also known as Swindon Road.

"The driver, a man in his 60s, suffered potentially life-changing leg injuries," the force said.

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