‘One day I thought, that’s enough’: the people fighting back against pothole-riddled roads
Key points
- Sitting in St Albans crown court, waiting for his case to be called, Derek Bennett’s anger momentarily gave way to a sense of disbelief.
- “I mean, there’s rape and murder cases going on,” he says.
- “I couldn’t believe I was there, with this stupid subject.” Initially, neither could the judge, whom Bennett says remarked that such issues were surely a matter for the magistrates.
- But Bennett, a 68-year-old construction consultant who has spent decades navigating building rules and regulations, had read the law carefully.
- Section 56 of the UK’s Highways Act 1980 clearly states the “highway authority or other person” responsible for a road in Britain is liable to maintain it, and should it fall into “disrepair”, a member of the public may apply for a crown court order to fix it.
Quick Summary
Sitting in St Albans crown court, waiting for his case to be called, Derek Bennett’s anger momentarily gave way to a sense of disbelief. “I
Why It Matters
This development is important because it may impact public opinion, policy decisions, and future developments related to ‘One day I thought, that’s enough’: the people fighting back.
Key Takeaways
- Sitting in St Albans crown court, waiting for his case to be called, Derek Bennett’s anger momentarily gave way to a sense of disbelief.
- “I mean, there’s rape and murder cases going on,” he says.
- “I couldn’t believe I was there, with this stupid subject.” Initially, neither could the judge, whom Bennett says remarked that such issues were surely a matter for the magistrates.
- But Bennett, a 68-year-old construction consultant who has spent decades navigating building rules and regulations, had read the law carefully.
- Section 56 of the UK’s Highways Act 1980 clearly states the “highway authority or other person” responsible for a road in Britain is liable to maintain it, and should it fall into “disrepair”, a member of the public may apply for a crown court order to fix it.
📌 Source: The Guardian
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