Gina Heslop
In Cornwall, England, authorities are on the lookout for a mystery motorist who took matters into their own hands by filling a large pothole with concrete.
The road at Tanhouse Road and Bodmin Hill in Lostwithiel had been officially closed since April due to ongoing drainage problems that had caused significant damage to the road.
Despite the closure, after a month of inaction, someone decided to fix the pothole themselves one weekend in May, using cement to fill the hole. This temporary fix allowed the road to reopen briefly, but it didn’t last long. Cornwall Council’s road repair company, Cormac, soon closed the road again because the repair wasn’t done through the proper channels.
The authorities are now trying to find out who made this unofficial repair. Cornwall Highways officials are investigating the situation, and they want to identify the person who took it upon themselves to fill the pothole without permission. The road was originally supposed to stay closed until June 9th, as the repair company, Cormac, was working through a backlog of potholes that needed fixing.
Colin Martin, a Cornwall councilor for Lanreath and Lostwithiel, expressed his frustration with the entire situation. He said the pothole served as a “perfect metaphor” for the problems facing the public sector, which he believes is suffering from underinvestment. His comment reflects the broader issue of budget cuts that have impacted road maintenance, leaving many potholes unrepaired for long periods.
The incident has sparked public debate, as many people are frustrated with how long it takes for roads to be repaired. The pothole issue in Cornwall is not unique, and it mirrors similar frustrations seen elsewhere.
For example, a previous case in Toronto saw a resident take it upon himself to build stairs in a public park after learning that the city’s estimate for the project was much higher than what he spent, which was only $550. Though that person faced consequences, the situation highlighted how budget cuts can lead citizens to take matters into their own hands.
This recent incident in Cornwall brings attention to the growing dissatisfaction with the pace of road repairs and how local authorities are struggling to keep up with the number of potholes, leaving some frustrated residents to resort to DIY solutions.
