Mystery artist who erected signs comparing pothole

Release time：2024-05-21 08:39:54 Source：Culture Connect news portal

A defiant resident infuriated by the potholes in their road has taken revenge on the council by erecting signs comparing it to a golf course.

The mystery artist has written 'Birdie!', 'Hazards!', 'Gardening' on the placards - and even likened the road to the once war-torn Lebanon capital, Beirut.

Despite the local authority's attempts to remove the signs after they were first put up - they reappeared overnight thanks to the 'determined' protester who wants the problem sorted.

The first set of hand written signs were put up on lamp posts in Portsview Avenue in Portchester, near Portsmouth, last month.

The largest read 'Portsview Golf Course' with '#TwinnedWithBeirut' written underneath.

A defiant Portsview Avenue resident - in Portchester, near Portsmouth - has put signs ridiculing their street's potholes, comparing it to a golf course, back up after the council removed them

The mystery artist has even likened the road to the once war-torn Lebanon capital, Beirut

Signs were first put up in early April, to the humour of complaining neighbours

The signs were taken down by the council but replacements have now appeared with the unknown campaigner hailed as a hero by residents.

Chris Chaddock, 67, has lived on the street for over 35 years and said: 'Every time they fill them in they come back and refill them again and again.

'Over the years it's been dug up many times. It's never been resurfaced.

'It's a periculous site, it's dangerous in places. I think one time when I went along, I think I counted 48, they had painted.

'They came back and filled some of the major ones but not all of them.'

The retired engineer said the signs were erected by an unknown neighbour but were soon taken down by the council.

He continued: 'They appeared one morning and then they were taken down then a few appeared again in similar humour - all golf-related.'

Mr Chaddock said someone is 'really determined to publicise' the issues caused by the potholes.

Resident Pat Tiller described the pothole problem on the road - where houses sell for between £300,000 to £400,000 - as 'so, so bad'.

The 83-year-old said that when the holes fill with rain pedestrians often get splashed by passing cars.

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'When you come onto the road, it's horrendous,' she said.

'I have actually seen two people get absolutely drowned. The road goes slightly down and when the rain comes it lands there.

'A woman went walking along that side of the road - she was absolutely soaked.'

Ms Tiller explained both lorries and buses pass through and the local council keep coming to the door and saying they will sort the problem.

She continued: 'But when will it be done? It's so, so bad and you have to drive really carefully around the potholes.

'They just do nothing. Come on Hampshire County Council, do something about it.'

The signs were first put up in early April but were swiftly removed by the council.

Portchester residents took to the local Facebook group to discuss the 'brilliant' signs and share their golf-related jokes and puns.

Chris Pye wrote: 'I got down the road in 36 attempts and lost 6 balls in deep holes. Anyone do it any better?'

Another neighbour, Sarah Ann Knight, said: 'More than 18 holes in Portsview!'

The council removed the placards but they have since been reinstated with the words 'Reopen PGC [Portsview Golf Course]'.

The mystery artist has written 'Birdie!', 'Hazards!', 'Gardening' on the placards

Pictured: Local Pat Tiller, 83, who said: 'When you come onto the road, it's horrendous'

Ms Tiller implored Hampshire County Council to act by filling in the potholes

Samantha Kerry Tribble has found the signs humorous and admitted the road is a 'mess'.

The 57-year-old said: 'The signs had gone up, which are hilarious, and I believe the council came back up and took them down.

'Maybe if they spent a little more time fixing the roads and a little less time moaning about the signs then that would be good.

'I haven't got a clue who put the signs up. It's a bit of humour, it makes the potholes bearable.

'The road is a mess and it must be so hard for the people that live along that road.

'The amount of potholes... they don't just arrive overnight, it's obviously after a long time of neglect.'

Residents returned to the local Facebook group to discuss the signs' reinstatement.

Another resident, Samantha Kerry Tribble, 57, added: 'Maybe if they spent a little more time fixing the roads and a little less time moaning about the signs then that would be good'

Hampshire County Council said it would resurface the road within a year

Portchester residents have found the signs to be a light relief from their troubles on the street, joking about them in their local Facebook group

One neighbour said: 'This road is a nightmare I have avoided it now for weeks it's like driving off road lol councils need to sort these roads out what are we paying taxes for all they do is patch them up and within weeks their bad again.'

And, another said: 'Great to see the signs back up again. Good to see Portsview Avenue residents have a sense of humour even when struggling with the poor road conditions.'

Hampshire County Council said it would resurface the road within a year.

A spokesperson said: 'More maintenance work is scheduled to take place along Portsview Avenue in the coming weeks and this will be in addition to the repairs recently completed.

'Plans are being drawn up to fully resurface the road later this financial year.'

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