Picture yourself cruising along a street full of potholes, leading to annoyance and disruption for all. The scenario unfolded at Tanhouse Road and Bodmin Hill in Lostwithiel, Cornwall. The residents had no option but to avoid the vicinity. One day, an unidentified driver decided to take action and filled the large pothole with concrete over a weekend in May.

The officials from Cornwall Council clarified that the road’s surface had degraded because of drainage problems. Consequently, the road was shut down in the beginning of April 2023. After a month had gone by with no action taken to repair the road, the resourceful driver took matters into their own hands. By repairing the pothole, they provided much-needed relief to the community when the road was reopened. Unfortunately, their act of kindness was short-lived.

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 currently working to locate the driver responsible for taking down the signs and fixing the pothole without permission.

Officials have notified the public that the road will stay closed until they tackle the backlog of pothole repairs. The community has been asked to provide any information about the individual who performed the repairs. Colin Martin, Cornwall councilor for Lanreath and Lostwithiel, expressed his frustration by using this pothole incident as a symbol of the lack of investment in public services.

Per Mr. Martin, the road has been closed once more and will only be reopened after Cormac completes the repairs to his satisfaction. Regrettably, this may take weeks since all available teams are currently focused on filling smaller potholes on other open roads. Over the last two years, the Cornwall Council, led by the Conservative party, has implemented budget reductions for road resurfacing and maintenance. This has led to a concerning rise in potholes throughout the county.

It’s worth noting that this is not the only instance of citizens taking matters into their own hands. In 2017, a Toronto resident built a set of park stairs for their community garden for only $550. In reaction to the city council’s projection that the project would range from $65,000 to $150,000. Similar to the situation with the Good Samaritan in Cornwall, the city officials were unhappy with the person’s ingenuity.

It’s inspiring to witness ordinary individuals taking action when the authorities are unable to meet the need. Let’s acknowledge their hard work and spread this tale of community unity with our loved ones on Facebook.