Motorist Fills Pothole Without Permission, Sparks Controversy
In Lostwithiel, Cornwall, a motorist took action into their own hands by filling a notorious pothole with cement on Tanhouse Road and Bodmin Hill. The road, plagued by neglect and officially closed due to drainage issues, frustrated locals who had to navigate around the dangerous gap. After a month of inaction from authorities, the unnamed individual decided to make an unauthorized repair over a weekend in May. This makeshift fix briefly reopened the road until Cormac, the council’s road repair contractor, closed it again, insisting on official repairs.
Cornwall Highways officials are now searching for the person responsible, criticizing the unsanctioned intervention. According to a councilor, Colin Martin, the incident symbolizes broader frustrations over public sector neglect: “Potholes across Cornwall are multiplying faster than they can be fixed due to budget cuts.”
This incident echoes a similar case in Toronto, where a resident built park stairs for $550 instead of the city’s estimated $65,000-$150,000 cost, prompting city displeasure.