Imagine driving down a road riddled with potholes, causing frustration and inconvenience for everyone. That was the situation on Tanhouse Road and Bodmin Hill in Lostwithiel, Cornwall. The citizens had no choice but to steer clear of the area. However, one day, an anonymous motorist took matters into their own hands, filling the enormous pothole with concrete during a weekend in May.
The Cornwall Council officials explained that the road’s surface had deteriorated due to drainage issues. As a result, the road was closed in early April 2023. Despite a month passing and no action being taken to fix the road, the enterprising driver decided to tackle the problem themselves. By filling the pothole, they brought relief to the community as the road reopened. However, their good deed didn’t last long.
Cormac, the road repair company hired by Cornwall Council, closed the road again, stating that 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 informed the public that the road will remain closed until they address the backlog of pothole repairs. They have even called on the community 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.
Interestingly, this is not an isolated incident of citizens taking matters into their own hands. In 2017, a Toronto resident constructed a set of park stairs for their community garden at a mere cost of $550. This was in response to the city council’s estimate that the project would cost between $65,000 and $150,000. Much like in the case of the Good Samaritan in Cornwall, the city officials were not pleased with the individual’s resourcefulness.
It’s heartwarming to see how everyday people step 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.
