A weekly newspaper has found a novel way of highlighting the problem of potholes by introducing a new recruit.
The Sevenoaks Chronicle is using a 24-inch tall Playmobil figure, known as Pothole Pete, who is on a campaign to tackle holes in roads.
He was introduced to readers in a double-page spread and and is communicating with local people about reports of potholes via Facebook, Twitter and his own email address.
Chronicle editor Roger Kasper said there had already been a good response from readers to Pete, who has his own logo with the slogan “If you have a pothole problem tell Pete…and he will look in to it.”
He said: “So far the reaction has been extremely positive. Pete brings a smile to people’s faces and they are happy to be pictured with him by the potholes.
“The potholes are a serious problem and last year we had reporters standing in knee-deep holes.
“This year I wanted to do something a bit different and the team, led by photographer Lewis Durham who has been a driving force behind Pete and came up with the idea, have really taken the little fella to their hearts.”
Pete, who was loaned to the paper by Playmobil, has scored a victory in his first week after workmen were sent to the road outside the town’s railway station after he investigated it.
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Knee deep holes – Really? Pictures please. I wish local newspapers would realise that council’s are having to cut tens of millions from their budgets, which means vital services for the most vulnerable people in local communities are going to be cut. Maybe the paper should introduce Care Charge Charlie or Respite Ronnie if it really wants point out local injustice. Honestly, some editors are obsessed with potholes. There is a lot of news going on at the moment.
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Although it’s a bit naff – newspapers’ trademark approach to anything – at least it’s something positive. Come on, we all moan about potholes so at least they’re doing something.
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Rob – I do not know which area of the country you are in but if you come here to the North West, you will find plenty of roads that would not look out of place in Albania. Local councils, the length and breadth of the country have not been maintaining roads for years and now we are paying they price for it. They are just a symptom of the generally right wing control that looks to limit council tax rises to stay in power rather than actually providing a service for it’s council taxpayers, of which road upkeep is one small part.
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Severely potholed roads, and there are plenty round us here in the South West, wreck suspensions and tyres, adding to the running costs on vehicles for ‘hard working families’. It’s also a visible every day example of the impact of council cuts, which might prompt people to look further at care services to which they might otherwise be rather oblivious. Oh and Harold might think about giving lessons to others in the use of the apostrophe.
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Right wing control Nothing to do with all the left-wing councils spending all the money on stupid diversity projects then ? Such as trying to get everyone to cycle 10 miles to work in the Snow in your best suit ?
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