A Liberal Democrat councillor in Devon has sparked controversy by urging taxpayers to fill potholes themselves, releasing a detailed 23-page manual to guide volunteers through the process. Louise Wainwright, who represents Salcombe on Devon County Council, claims the only way to address the overwhelming backlog of unfilled potholes is for local residents to take matters into their own hands.
Council budget constraints
Devon County Council, currently under a minority Liberal Democrat administration, faces severe financial pressures. Ms Wainwright, though not a cabinet member, argues that consecutive governments have imposed punitive budget cuts on county councils, leaving insufficient funds for road repairs. She insists that everyone must work together to tackle the appalling state of the roads.
The Devon Parish Pothole Handbook
Ms Wainwright has produced the Devon Parish Pothole Handbook, designed for what she calls 'small but agile armies of volunteers' who can help hold back the deterioration of country lanes. The manual includes detailed instructions on carrying out repairs, health and safety training, and proper use of equipment. Volunteers are provided with free cold lay material, tools, and personal protective equipment, as well as insurance coverage.
The handbook outlines a step-by-step process: setting up traffic management signs, brushing out debris from the pothole, spraying emulsion, using fresh cold-lay material to overfill the pothole to 1.5 times its depth, and applying a bitumen spray coat. Volunteers must then tamp the surface firmly until a solid thud is heard.
Volunteer road wardens scheme
Ms Wainwright aims to build on the little-known Road Wardens Scheme introduced in Devon in 2017, where parish councils trained local volunteers to clear and fill small potholes on minor roads. However, only about a third of parishes signed up, and the scheme has not been replicated elsewhere. Volunteers receive health and safety training and cannot work on roads with speed limits above 30mph.
Potholes larger than 12 inches wide or 1.5 inches deep remain the responsibility of the county council's highways department. Ms Wainwright emphasises that volunteer efforts would allow the council to focus on larger repairs, especially during summer when winter fixes are often temporary.
Public reaction and impact
The councillor believes volunteers would become 'local heroes' receiving praise from grateful communities. So far, 135 of Devon's 426 parishes have joined the initiative. Almost 10,000 potholes were reported to the council in February alone after winter storms. Nationally, pothole-related breakdowns rose by 15% in 2025, costing drivers an average of £500 per incident. The government has pledged £7.3 billion for road maintenance across England.
Ms Wainwright's approach has drawn both support and criticism, highlighting the ongoing debate over local government funding and infrastructure priorities.
