A ROAD in Somerset which residents have described as 'the most potholed road in England' has been repaired by a national newspaper.

Despite calls from the residents and MP Ian Liddell-Grainger to ask Somerset Council to take responsibility for the lane in Watchet, the Daily Mail has now paid for the necessary repairs to be taken out by DanMac Tarmac Contractors.

Residents including a 101-year-old man on the Whitehall road in Watchet claim they were told to fill the 21 potholes themselves by the Somerset Council.

The residents say that more than six people have fallen over as a result of the potholes - described by a neighbour as 'bomb craters' - with two being hospitalised.

In response to residents' concerns, Somerset Council said that despite difficulties to understand who is responsible for the road, a 'shared approach to maintenance' will be implemented going forward.

Ian Liddell-Grainger, MP for Bridgwater and West Somerset, welcomed the news of the repair, but urged Somerset Council to claim responsibility of the road to stop the same issue from happening again.

“It is one of those classic examples of local authority dithering which crop up from time to time and which make one despair of the entire local government culture,” he said.

“The council was claiming it had no responsibility for the repairs but has probably expended more in officer time trying to deny liability than the actual work would have cost.

“Everyone should be grateful, that the Daily Mail has stopped in to resolve this farcical situation but the obvious step now is for the council to formally adopt the road.

“That way local people will know precisely who to  approach to carry out maintenance and repairs as and when they become necessary in future - and there will be no way the council of the day will be able to duck the issue.”

At the time of the initial enquiry, in early March 2024, a spokesperson from Somerset Council said: "We are looking into ownership of the land and who has responsibility for its repair.

''Whilst there are some potholes, the lane carries a public footpath which is still accessible for walkers.

“This lane is a public right of way, not a public road, which is used by residents to access their properties, therefore the responsibility for the upkeep of this lane is complex and there will need to shared approach to maintenance going forward.

''We do understand people’s concerns and we are going to work with residents to try to come to a workable solution.”