Angry residents have praised the unidentified “hero vigilante” who took it upon themselves to fill the notorious “Cornwall’s biggest pothole,” allowing the previously closed road near Lostwithiel to reopen after a month.
The phantom pothole filler poured concrete into the 10ft wide crater, removed signs and barriers, and enabled cars to pass through.
However, council highways officials responded by placing concrete blocks on the road, stating that the work had been performed “without consent” by an unknown person. They are now calling on the local community to help identify the responsible individual.
Residents have made a resolute pledge to protect the individual, expressing concerns that they might face charges of criminal damage. Instead, they likened the person to a contemporary Robin Hood figure.
Nicky Paull, 67, said: ‘I know who it is, it’s really cool what they did. They did it out of the goodness of their heart because the road closure was badly impacting people locally.
‘I’m intrigued to know why they want to know who repaired it – is finding them a good use of public money?
‘It is really disappointing that nobody has been out to fix it yet when the road has been closed for more than a month.
Last Sunday, locals witnessed a pick-up truck parked near the closed road, and some heard sounds of work being carried out from a distance. To their astonishment, just a few hours later, the road was reopened.
One witty remark was made, jokingly speculating, “Maybe Rod Stewart’s down here on holiday.” Last year, musician Sir Rod Stewart, 78, had personally filled potholes near his home in Harlow, Essex, expressing frustration over the lack of action.
Another resident compared the repairer to a Cornish Piskie, a mythical creature from local folklore known for its pixie-like appearance and reputation for bringing good luck and assistance.
Since the road closure began in early April, several residents have faced difficulties accessing vital services such as mail deliveries and waste collection, despite the town of Lostwithiel being just a mile away.
Roger Mildren, aged 78, hailed the individual who filled the pothole as a hero. He shared the dire situation he had been left in, including the lack of bin collection since the road closure and the delayed paperwork he needed following the passing of his wife on May 5. Additionally, he mentioned not receiving a letter notifying him of an appointment for bowel cancer surgery.
Cornwall Council’s roads repair company, Cormac, has announced that the road will remain closed until June 9. They have stated that they will not undertake any further repairs until they have caught up with a backlog of pothole repairs.
Expressing his frustration, local resident Graham Dawson, aged 67, remarked, “First it was going to be fixed by the end of April then in May now I’m not even confident it will be done by July.”
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