Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Telegraph
The Telegraph
National
Telegraph reporters

Pictured: A mysterious ripped-up road in Wiltshire

 The B4069 near Lyneham which has been severely damaged - Adam Hughes / SWNS
The B4069 near Lyneham which has been severely damaged - Adam Hughes / SWNS

The B4069 near Lyneham, Wilts has been severely damaged by as-yet unexplained forces. The section of the road has been so badly damaged that the tarmac is completely snapped or lying a 45-degree angle in some places. 

Wiltshire Council say the road has been closed since February 17th, but some drivers still are still attempting to use it according to police. 

The 'earthquake-like damage seems to have come from unexplained movements underground that will now be investigated.

he 'earthquake-like damage seems to have come from unexplained movements underground - Adam Hughes / SWNS
he 'earthquake-like damage seems to have come from unexplained movements underground - Adam Hughes / SWNS

Local residents claim the subsidence has been getting worse over the last year and a landslip was inevitable.

Wiltshire Council said it is now waiting for a report from geotechnical specialists before taking further action.

Dr Mark McClelland, Wiltshire Council cabinet member for transport, told BBC Radio Wiltshire: "It could costs hundreds of thousands or up into the millions [to fix].

"There is significant damage to the road. It could be up to 12 months in total. It's not something that can be resolved in a matter of days or weeks."

Dr McClelland added in some places the road had 'buckled' up to four feet, and descriptions of it looking like an earthquake were accurate.

He added: "The underlying ground has slipped and we need to understand why that has happened.

"The police have been very clear that it's very dangerous for motorists to ignore signage."

The remarkable damage is also affecting local business, with local pubs like the Peterborough Arms suffering huge losses in bookings since the closure.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.