Driving down a road full of potholes can be incredibly frustrating, causing inconvenience for everyone. This was exactly the situation on Tanhouse Road and Bodmin Hill in Lostwithiel, Cornwall. The citizens were forced to avoid the area altogether. However, one day, an anonymous motorist decided to take matters into their own hands. During a weekend in May, they filled a massive pothole with concrete, bringing relief to the community as the road reopened.
Cormac, the road repair company hired by Cornwall Council, closed the road again, claiming they were not officially responsible for the repairs. The council’s highways department is now trying to identify the motorist and hold them accountable for removing the signs and filling the pothole without consent.
The officials have announced that the road will remain closed until they can address the backlog of pothole repairs. They have even reached out to the community, urging them to share any information about the person who carried out the repairs. Clearly frustrated, Colin Martin, Cornwall councilor for Lanreath and Lostwithiel, described this pothole incident as a perfect metaphor for the underinvestment in public services.
According to Mr. Martin, the road has been closed again and will only reopen once it is “properly” repaired by Cormac. Unfortunately, this could take weeks as all available teams have been diverted to filling smaller potholes on other open roads. The budget cuts for road resurfacing and proactive maintenance imposed by the Conservative-led Cornwall Council over the past two years have resulted in an alarming increase in potholes across the county.
The road had deteriorated due to drainage issues, which prompted the Cornwall Council officials to close it in early April 2023. Despite a month passing with no action taken to fix the road, the proactive driver decided to tackle the problem themselves. Unfortunately, their good deed didn’t last long.
This incident of a citizen taking matters into their own hands to fix a public problem is not isolated. In 2017, a Toronto resident built a set of park stairs for their community garden at a fraction of the estimated cost provided by the city council. In response, much like in the case of the Good Samaritan in Cornwall, city officials were not pleased with the individual’s resourcefulness.
It’s heartwarming to see everyday people stepping up when the authorities fall short. Let’s recognize their efforts and share this story of community spirit with our family and friends on Facebook.