Authorities in Cornwall, England, are currently searching for an anonymous motorist who, out of frustration over delays, took matters into their own hands by filling a pothole with cement. The road at Tanhouse Road and Bodmin Hill in Lostwithiel had been officially closed in April due to drainage issues, with no repair progress for over a month. Over a weekend in May, the unidentified individual repaired the pothole, leading to a brief reopening of the road. However, the council’s contractor, Cormac, soon re-closed the road, citing the unofficial nature of the repair and a scheduled reopening date of June 9 as they address a backlog of maintenance work.

The incident has sparked a wave of public attention and criticism, especially as potholes continue to plague the area. Colin Martin, the Cornwall councilor for Lanreath and Lostwithiel, voiced his dissatisfaction, calling the pothole a “perfect metaphor” for the underfunding of public infrastructure. While some locals admire the rogue repair for its initiative, Cornwall Council is actively seeking information on the person responsible. The situation also reflects a broader issue faced by communities worldwide—where delays and high repair costs push citizens to take action themselves, as seen in a similar case in Toronto involving a self-built staircase in a public park.