In Lostwithiel, Cornwall, an anonymous resident took matters into their own hands by filling a giant pothole on Tanhouse Road and Bodmin Hill with cement. The road had been closed since early April due to drainage issues, but after a month of inaction, the frustrated motorist decided to repair it themselves over the first weekend in May. This temporary fix led to a brief reopening of the road before Cormac, the road repair company, closed it again for official repairs.

Cornwall Highways is now searching for the individual responsible, requesting that information about them be shared with the community. Colin Martin, the Cornwall councilor for Lanreath and Lostwithiel, views this pothole incident as a symptom of broader public sector issues caused by underinvestment. He stated, “The road closure will remain in effect until Cormac completes the repairs,” which might take weeks as their teams are currently occupied with smaller potholes.

Martin criticized the budget cuts made by the Conservative-run Cornwall Council, which have led to an increase in potholes across the county. This situation echoes a similar event in 2017, when a Toronto resident built park stairs at a community garden at a fraction of the city’s estimated cost. The city’s reaction to that independent initiative was not favorable.

The frustration of the Cornwall resident highlights ongoing concerns about road maintenance and the impact of budget cuts on public infrastructure.