Dear Editor

I tried the Cornwall Council online facility for reporting a pothole.

The concept is one zooms in on a map and clicks on the location of the pothole, not quite so easy on a mobile phone screen.

It then asks what size the pothole is, 40mm in depth or more, or 20mm to 40mm for example, and whether a photograph is available.

How many people are in a position whilst on route, particularly on a busy main road, to measure a pothole, or stop and take a photo, especially if on a blind bend?

The online form then asks for additional information, it is a pot hole, what more can I say. I realise these days utility companies want you to read the meters for them and submit the readings, but surely a highways inspector should come out and assess the pothole for themselves after it is reported.

I doubt very much anyone would bother reporting a small pothole that did not sufficiently jolt their vehicle when hitting it, enough to make them worry about the any potential damage it may have caused.

Perhaps the council will send me out some do-it-yourself tarmac and a shovel in the post.

I think much of this constant pothole filling is false economy, as very soon, sometimes within a few days, after many of them are filled, the tarmac just comes out again. I believe if large stretches of road in poor condition were to be completely resurfaced properly it would be more economical long term.

I also wonder why I find in general, the roads in North Cornwall are in much better condition than many of those in the former Kerrier District, does this stem back to the days of the district councils and how they individually managed their money I wonder, or does someone prioritise North Cornwall road maintenance now.

Gilly Zella Martin