The pothole signs that put Daventry in the spotlight

By Martin Heath

BBC News, Northamptonshire

Anyone living in a built-up area would probably tell you potholes are a problem in their neighbourhood.

But rarely does the issue turn into a saga quite like the one that played out in Daventry, Northamptonshire.

The state of the town’s roads was talked about on national radio, provoked a political row and even inspired a baker to create a pothole pastry.

It all began when people spotted a piece of wood tied to a speed limit sign on a road to Long Buckby.

Letters painted in black welcomed drivers to “Pot Hole City – twinned with Grand Canyon”.

That was just the start as more makeshift signs appeared.

One roundabout was dubbed “Pot Holy Island” by a hand-painted sign, while another boasted two notices warning drivers of “hole after hole” and invited them to “hold on tight”.

Pictures of the signs popped up in social media feeds, sparking online discussions about the best way to tackle the pothole menace.

One motorist posted: “Maybe, just maybe, if enough [signs] were put up the council would get on board and start repairing the holes.”

The Highways Act 1980 makes attaching a sign to any structure on a highway without permission an offence, but the placards remained in place – for the time being.

People were now on the lookout for new signs and they were not disappointed.

One in a hedge in Abbey Street, a main route into the town centre, advised onlookers they were now on “Route 66 Potholes” and claimed DDC (the district council abolished in 2021) “don’t care”.

A white door, complete with brass handle, emblazoned with the message “welcome to Pot Hole City, home of the incompetent council” was propped up against a sign outside the local hospital.

Amid speculation about the mystery sign-writer’s identity, a Facebook page was created by “Daventry Banksie” and the campaigner told the BBC the signs were prompted by a driver whose car was damaged by a pothole and was not compensated.

Daventry Banksie added he would stop if the local authority apologised for the grief caused by unrepaired roads.

Daventry Banksie fought back with a placard addressed to WNC (West Northamptonshire Council), which read: “You can take our sign but you can’t take our freedom!”

A day later, a motion was proposed at a full council meeting by the Conservative-controlled authority’s opposition leader Wendy Randall, a Daventry councillor.

The motion called on the council to explain how it was going to spend £162m allocated by the government from HS2 funds for road improvements.

Ms Randall told the meeting: “Daventry has made national news this week over the state of our roads… it really does say something when residents are installing signs all over the town because enough is enough.”

The motion provoked a fiery debate during which the Conservative councillor Michael Brown spoke about an encounter with a pothole on a dark road, which forced him to pull over.

He said: “Within three or four minutes, a van [doing] 70 miles an hour hit the car and the van rolled over part of me as well.”

The Conservative cabinet member for highways, Phil Larratt, appeared to suggest potholes were remaining unfilled because the county was spending too much on vulnerable children.

He said: “If our children’s trust weren’t overspending to the amount that they are, we would be able to do a hell of a lot more.”

There followed protests from members of the public and fellow councillors, who accused Mr Larratt of “blaming the children”.

Labour councillor Emma Roberts said Mr Larratt had made “one of the most divisive statements I’ve ever heard in this chamber”.

The amended motion, which was not accepted by Ms Randall, was passed by the council.

Meanwhile, Daventry Banksie called for local landowners to let him put signs on their land, close enough to the roads for drivers to see them but where the council would not be able to remove them.

The mystery campaigner also unveiled another sign, suggesting their relationship with the council, if it was ever sweet, had turned sour.

It read “WNC I want a divorce. It’s not me, it’s you. #Unreasonable behaviour”.

West Northamptonshire Council told the BBC: “We understand the frustration [the pothole problem] is causing our residents and we are working to prioritise and complete works as quickly as possible.

“We are making significant steps to improve the condition of our roads by deploying new technology and advancing our fleet, with methods that are proven to drive efficiencies and provide a quality service.”

Whether the story of Daventry Banksie makes any difference to the state of the roads in the long run remains to be seen.

But one thing has come out of the saga – a whole new pastry – designed by Ben Welch.

He has a weekly stall at the Arc Cinema in Daventry, where he has added the Pothole Pastry to his selection, a “classic croissant dome, filled with an Oreo cheesecake, topped with a biscuit crumb to resemble the road and then a chocolate Oreo with a Milky Bar button to resemble the tyre stuck in the pothole.”

Mr Welch added: “I got inspired by the signs around Daventry, which are absolutely hilarious.

“Finally someone’s got a bit of a sense of humour in Daventry.”

Follow East of England news on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a story? Email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp 0800 169 1830

Related Topics