In the picturesque town of Lostwithiel, Cornwall, a mysterious motorist decided to take matters into their own hands and fill a massive pothole on Tanhouse Road and Bodmin Hill. The DIY repair, although well-intentioned, sparked a heated debate between the anonymous citizen, the Cornwall Council, and road repair company Cormac.
The road had been closed since early April due to drainage issues, but after a month of inaction from the authorities, the frustrated motorist decided to take matters into their own hands. Over the first weekend in May, they filled the pothole with cement, briefly reopening the road. However, Cormac soon closed the road again, citing the need for official repairs.
Cornwall Highways is now on the hunt for the identity of the mystery motorist, urging the community to share any information they may have. Meanwhile, local councilor Colin Martin sees the pothole as a symptom of a larger problem – the deterioration of public services due to underinvestment.
According to Martin, the road will remain closed until Cormac completes the repairs, which could take weeks. He also criticized the budget cuts for road maintenance made by the Conservative-led Cornwall Council, resulting in a surge of potholes across the county.
This incident is reminiscent of a similar situation in 2017, where a Toronto resident built a set of park stairs for a community garden at a fraction of the estimated cost provided by the city. However, the city’s response to this independent initiative was far from favorable.
The story of the mystery motorist serves as a reminder of the frustrations that can arise when citizens feel that their local authorities are not doing enough to address pressing issues. While the motorist’s actions may have been unorthodox, they highlight the need for greater accountability and transparency in public services.
