A PROSPECTIVE local councillor took things into his own hands last week as he filled a Hoyland pothole in himself.
Andy Wray, 55, of Hoyland, has been a driving instructor for the last 18 years and he said potholes are the ‘bane of his life’.
After coming across one on West Street opposite the war memorial he decided to fill it in himself.
“I’m a driving instructor and as I was travelling down the road I hit the pothole it crunched and I wasn’t happy,” said Andy, who is looking to stand as an independent councillor in this year’s elections.
“Nobody seemed to be doing anything about it.
“I just decided to get two bags of limestone and fill it in myself.
“I was stood in the middle of the road looking like a mad man.”
Andy filled the pothole on Friday afternoon and just a few hours later Barnsley Council were out to top it off.
“I’d like to think that it was my actions which brought the council but I’m not too sure,” he added.
“I’ve had nothing from the council either.
“I was expecting a fine for fly-tipping but they haven’t said anything.”
Coun James Higginbottom, cabinet spokesperson for environment and transport, said: “We absolutely do not condone untrained individuals putting loose material into the highway, as this can be dangerous to road users and vehicles, and puts those and others doing it at significant risk.
“Our highways team are fully trained and licensed professionals - please leave it to them to maintain and repair Barnsley’s roads.
“Residents can do their bit by reporting potholes to us through our website at www.barnsley.gov.uk/potholes.
“Every time a potholes is reported, our highways Inspectors assess the extent of the problem.
“Those that are deemed dangerous are temporarily repaired until more permanent maintenance activities can take place.
“Our teams are currently working seven days a week and we are addressing 98% per cent of Category One potholes within 24 hours.
“For potholes that do no meet that criteria, they are monitored and will be repaired as part of our planned maintenance programme.”
