Local campaigner Ben Thornbury of Malmesbury, Wiltshire, has gained notoriety for his unconventional methods of pressuring the council into fixing neglected roads. Over the past two years, Thornbury has staged increasingly bizarre public stunts – including pothole golf, pothole fishing, and even eating breakfast cereal from road damage – to draw attention to the deteriorating condition of local infrastructure.
From Crazy Golf to Breakfast Bowls
Thornbury’s activism began in 2023 when he created a makeshift crazy golf course using potholes on Malmesbury’s high street. Within weeks, the council resurfaced the entire road. Encouraged by this success, he repeated the stunt on another street, followed by “pothole fishing” near the town’s historic abbey. In July 2024, Thornbury took his campaign to a new level by publicly eating Weetabix from a pothole in the nearby village of Somerford Keynes. Most recently, in August, he painted potholes with St George’s Crosses.
“I won’t do the Weetabix one again – milk and gravel isn’t very nice,” Thornbury admits, but acknowledges that his stunts seem to get results.
Council Response and Wider Impact
Wiltshire Council denies that Thornbury’s actions directly influenced repair decisions. Council leader Ian Thorn insists that road improvements have been planned for years and are based on allocated funds, not protests. He points to a 44% decrease in reported potholes in the first half of 2024 as proof that the council is making progress.
Despite the official denial, Thornbury’s efforts have caught the attention of other local authorities. Joe Harris, a highways cabinet member in Gloucestershire, invited him to Cirencester to share road repair techniques. Meanwhile, towns across the UK have contacted Thornbury to publicize their own pothole problems.
A Rising Voice for Road Maintenance
Thornbury’s unusual methods have clearly resonated with frustrated motorists and local officials alike. While his stunts may not be conventional, they have forced a conversation about road maintenance and accountability. He has become an unlikely advocate, proving that even the most absurd tactics can sometimes yield tangible results.
The story highlights a growing frustration with deteriorating infrastructure in the UK. Thornbury’s success suggests that direct, even disruptive, action may be necessary to compel local governments to prioritize road repairs.
