Council fills in half of pothole

It has been reported that Walsall Council in the West Midlands only filled in half of a pothole - because the other half was on land owned by a housing association!

Local butcher Keith Clarke told the Daily Mail: "I've never seen anything like it in my life. I don’t know why they can't just get their heads together with the housing association and sort the thing out. The water is gathering in the other half of the holes, so surely that will ruin the part that has been fixed. What a waste of money."

You can almost hear the photographer saying: "no, no, Keith. Keep the apron on!"



Thankfully Walsall Housing Group followed suit and made good on their responsibilities towards road safety. How can Keith celebrate this breakthrough? By kneeling down on the road, of course!



The BBC even have some video. Good to see that camera crews in the West Midlands are being put to good use(!)

International potholes of mystery (crazy New Yorker edition)

Apparently New York City has shelled out for 15 inspectors to ride around on scooters looking for potholes (and graffiti and litter). They rode 1,918 miles and logged 2,877 complaints.

Mayor Bloomberg's efforts in this area have gone unappreciated by at least one of his constituents. "ARE YOU FREAKING ME??!! THE PROBLEM ISN'T FINDING THESE POTHOLES, IT'S FIXING 'EM!!". Indeed.

Pothole picture poses: the double point

When you have two councillors to hand you can arrange another pose: the "double point"! What better way to show what a 7% cut in St. Albans highway expenditure can lead to?

Thanks, Chris White and Sandy Walkington!

International potholes of mystery (Malaysian edition)

Municipal councillor Tham Weng Fatt isn't happy at all. These holes at the junction of Jelutong Expressway and Lebuh Bakau in Penang appeared eight hours after repair work.

“I don’t know who did the repair work but I believe it was a last-minute shoddy job when they heard I was calling a press conference to highlight the issue”

You tell them, Tham!

Honestly, it was THIS big!

Councillor Dominic Thorncroft examines a huge one in Machell Road, Nunhead:

4,000 holes in Blackburn, Lancashire

Potholes were even making the news back in 1967 when John Lennon cribbed a Daily Mail headline about roads in Blackburn. He included it in lyrics for A Day in the Life.

“I read the news today, oh boy. 4,000 holes in Blackburn, Lancashire.
And though the holes were rather small
They had to count them all
Now they know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall”

It's encouraging to discover that Labour councillors John Wright and Solly Khonat have located at least two of them. Only 3,998 to go, lads!

Pothole envy (Tories like to measure theirs)

Councillor Andrew Percy likes to measure his with a ruler:

"A lot of lorries have been driving along the road"

Labour Councillor Dave Harris shows the damage potholes can cause as wheels and complaint letters to Essex Council detatch from passing vehicles:

I am a golfer, but I am also a cyclist!

Holes in the road aren't necessarily a bad thing. The Cambridge Cycle Campaign often indulge in an opportune game of crazy golf:

Pass the thesaurus

How do Liberal Democrat councillors describe potholes? As a "disgrace", of course!

Just ask Ian Buckland in Littlehampton and Peter Harris in Southwell:


"Local roads are a disgrace! The Tory-controlled county council appears to have forgotton Littlehampton when it comes to road improvements"


"The Roads in Southwell are a Disgrace - The Town let down by the Tories"!

"Everybody is delighted"

Recent rain need not be a barrier to a great pothole snap. You can avoid getting your clothes wet by squatting instead of kneeling, as ably demonstrated by campaigner Sasha Tiffany, Councillor Ghazanfer Khaliq and headteacher Andrew Wallwork in Bradford.

They look quite pleased with themselves and rightly so. They've collected 275 signatures and the road is set to be repaired!

"Let him know if you find a pothole"

Let's start with Labour and a classic example of the 'bended knee' pose! Councillor Ed Turner shares Iffley residents' concerns about potholes in the village!

Getting down on one knee for local democracy!

You've seen it before. With a professionally pained expression they are simply aghast at the dimensions of the offending article. Sometimes they get on one knee to show you. And often they'll point right at it in public.

What keeps hard working local councillors awake at night more than potholes? Our local government representatives love nothing more than pointing at a pothole and, of course, demanding that something should be done!

The brainchild of @KerryMP and @LaurenceDurnan, this blog is a fond tribute to the work done by councillors to keep our suspension in tip top condition - and the photographic masterpieces created along the way.

Here goes...