Mystery artist mocks council with signs slamming pothole problems plaguing town
- last month
A mystery artist has been mocking a council by erecting signs around a town slamming the state of its pothole-ridden roads.
The anonymous campaigner, known as the Daventry Banksie, has left motorist baffled after putting up 26 hand-painted signs around Daventry, Northants.
Despite them being repeatedly removed, she is vowing to continue making more
in a bid to shame West Northamptonshire Council into repairing the potholes.
The comical signs dub Daventry "Pot Hole City" and one referencing the musical Grease declares: "I got potholes. They're multiplying. And W.N.C is losing control."
Others joke "Ghostbusters. Who you gonna call? Not W.N.C" and "Warning extreme traffic calming - craters."
Daventry Banksie said she would not stop until "the council apologises publicly to the people of Daventry for being incompetent."
She added: "I will be continuing until we have had an apology from the council and they publish an action plan stating what they will do to rectify the situation, how they are prioritising repairs, what they are doing to hold their contractors accountable, and finally what the specific timelines are.
“The community support has been fantastic, and I think that is where the real power is. We’re not allowing this to fade away until real action from the WNC is seen.
"I really believe we allow our government, both at a local and national level, to get away with incompetence and a lack of integrity.
“Going forward, I would urge anyone within the community to do what they can, whether this is putting their own signs up or even just continuing to share posts on social media, so we can keep this top of the agenda."
Speaking to ITV News, she added: "I'm fed up of Daventry being the underdog. Collectively, as a town, we will shame the council into repairing the roads properly.
"Especially when the council tax went up by the maximum allowance, we just deserve better.
"They keep repairing them shabbily and they have to keep coming back out again. It seems like such a waste of time, a waste of money."
Motorists have said they have been left increasingly frustrated by the scores of potholes on the town's roads, with many suffering flat tyres and broken springs.
Other residents have also slammed the lack of council action, saying some roads are like a 'slalom track' trying to avoid potholes.
Richard Nuthall, 69, who has lived in Daventry for the last 29 years, said: “The signs are certainly needed to highlight the holes as they are quite bad.
“All the time you’re driving your swerving in and out to avoid them.
"On some of the roundabouts you’re looking at the holes in the road to avoid them and not the actual cars.
“I think it’s quite a humorous thing and it’s obviously brought it to the attention of the council. I think the council should be doing more than that, they don’t do enough.”
Another local reckons the signs have spurred the council on to carry out last-minute repairs to the worst hit areas.
The man, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "The council has been trying to cover the potholes since the signs have been up. They’ve been working at night to try and patch it up. Some of them aren’t exactly the best repairs."
Michael, 30, has recently moved to the area from Bicester and says he noticed a huge difference in road quality.
Michael said: "I moved here two months ago from Bicester and I can see that there's a huge difference in road quality in Daventry.
"I've been travelling and it's horribly bad I would say, especially around the roundabouts.
"You need to maneuver and it's not safe at all as you focus more on the potholes than the actual roads. It should be the top priority.
"I the the signs are a good idea, making a strong argument for it."
The anonymous campaigner, known as the Daventry Banksie, has left motorist baffled after putting up 26 hand-painted signs around Daventry, Northants.
Despite them being repeatedly removed, she is vowing to continue making more
in a bid to shame West Northamptonshire Council into repairing the potholes.
The comical signs dub Daventry "Pot Hole City" and one referencing the musical Grease declares: "I got potholes. They're multiplying. And W.N.C is losing control."
Others joke "Ghostbusters. Who you gonna call? Not W.N.C" and "Warning extreme traffic calming - craters."
Daventry Banksie said she would not stop until "the council apologises publicly to the people of Daventry for being incompetent."
She added: "I will be continuing until we have had an apology from the council and they publish an action plan stating what they will do to rectify the situation, how they are prioritising repairs, what they are doing to hold their contractors accountable, and finally what the specific timelines are.
“The community support has been fantastic, and I think that is where the real power is. We’re not allowing this to fade away until real action from the WNC is seen.
"I really believe we allow our government, both at a local and national level, to get away with incompetence and a lack of integrity.
“Going forward, I would urge anyone within the community to do what they can, whether this is putting their own signs up or even just continuing to share posts on social media, so we can keep this top of the agenda."
Speaking to ITV News, she added: "I'm fed up of Daventry being the underdog. Collectively, as a town, we will shame the council into repairing the roads properly.
"Especially when the council tax went up by the maximum allowance, we just deserve better.
"They keep repairing them shabbily and they have to keep coming back out again. It seems like such a waste of time, a waste of money."
Motorists have said they have been left increasingly frustrated by the scores of potholes on the town's roads, with many suffering flat tyres and broken springs.
Other residents have also slammed the lack of council action, saying some roads are like a 'slalom track' trying to avoid potholes.
Richard Nuthall, 69, who has lived in Daventry for the last 29 years, said: “The signs are certainly needed to highlight the holes as they are quite bad.
“All the time you’re driving your swerving in and out to avoid them.
"On some of the roundabouts you’re looking at the holes in the road to avoid them and not the actual cars.
“I think it’s quite a humorous thing and it’s obviously brought it to the attention of the council. I think the council should be doing more than that, they don’t do enough.”
Another local reckons the signs have spurred the council on to carry out last-minute repairs to the worst hit areas.
The man, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "The council has been trying to cover the potholes since the signs have been up. They’ve been working at night to try and patch it up. Some of them aren’t exactly the best repairs."
Michael, 30, has recently moved to the area from Bicester and says he noticed a huge difference in road quality.
Michael said: "I moved here two months ago from Bicester and I can see that there's a huge difference in road quality in Daventry.
"I've been travelling and it's horribly bad I would say, especially around the roundabouts.
"You need to maneuver and it's not safe at all as you focus more on the potholes than the actual roads. It should be the top priority.
"I the the signs are a good idea, making a strong argument for it."