It’s not every day you hear about a hero in a car, but that’s exactly what happened in Cornwall, England. Frustrated with a giant pothole on Tanhouse Road and Bodmin Hill, an anonymous driver decided to take matters into their own hands. Armed with determination and a truckload of cement, they filled the troublesome pothole themselves.
Cornwall residents are no strangers to bumpy roads, but this particular pothole had become a headache for everyone. The road was officially closed in April due to ongoing drainage issues that caused the surface to deteriorate. However, after a month of inactivity from the authorities, our mystery hero had had enough. So, over the first weekend in May, they went to the pothole and performed a DIY repair job.
Surprisingly, the makeshift fix worked and the road was reopened briefly. But, the joy was short-lived as the Cornwall Council’s road repair company, Cormac, closed the road again since the work wasn’t done on their terms. Now, the hunt is on for the person who defied the system and made a difference.
Cornwall Highways, responsible for maintaining the roads, is determined to find the anonymous do-gooder. They’ve even mentioned that this noble act included removing signs without permission. On the other hand, Colin Martin, Cornwall councilor for Lanreath and Lostwithiel, sees this incident as a symbol of the overall state of neglect in the public sector.
Mr. Martin explains, “The road has been closed again and will remain closed until it is ‘properly’ repaired by Cormac, but they say this could be weeks away as all available teams have been diverted to filling smaller potholes on roads which are still open. As a result of this short-sighted decision, potholes are now appearing across Cornwall faster than Cormac can fill them in.”
This lone ranger’s actions are reminiscent of a similar incident in Toronto, where a resident took it upon themselves to build park stairs for a community garden. The estimated cost of $65,000 to $150,000 was deemed too expensive by the city. However, our crafty citizen managed to complete the project for just $550. Naturally, the city was less than thrilled with this act of self-sufficiency, but you’ll have to keep reading to find out how they responded.
People like our mysterious motorist and Toronto’s DIY hero show us the power of individual action. While their methods may not fit the official narrative, they remind us that sometimes taking matters into our own hands can make a real difference. So, who knows, maybe there’s a hero in all of us just waiting for the right pothole to fill.
