Authorities in Cornwall, England, are searching for a motorist who, out of frustration, took it upon themselves to fill a troublesome pothole with cement. The road at Tanhouse Road and Bodmin Hill in Lostwithiel had been officially closed in April due to drainage issues causing road deterioration.
After a month of inaction, an anonymous individual decided to fix the pothole over a weekend in May, leading to a temporary reopening. However, the Cornwall Council’s road repair company Cormac closed the road again as the work was not done officially.
Now, Cornwall Highways officials are on a quest to identify the person responsible for the unsanctioned repair.
The road was slated to remain closed until June 9th, as Cormac addressed a backlog of pothole repairs. Colin Martin, Cornwall councilor for Lanreath and Lostwithiel, expressed frustration over the situation, describing the pothole as a “perfect metaphor for the way that the entire public sector is crumbling due to underinvestment.”
The pothole that has been fixed by a private motorist.
Despite public discontent, the Cornwall Council seeks information on the individual who carried out the DIY repair without consent.
Meanwhile, the controversy highlights broader concerns about budget cuts impacting road maintenance, with potholes proliferating faster than repairs can address them. This incident echoes a previous case in Toronto, where a resident faced consequences for independently constructing park stairs due to city estimates being significantly higher than his $550 investment.