Thanks so much for this great April Fools – You know who you are! Ed
More bad news for Isle of Wight drivers this week, with the news that some of the potholes in our roads will never be filled, as they have been designated as historically significant man-made features and slapped with preservation orders.
As well as numerous Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs), the Island also boasts several Important Sites Of Road Engineering (ISOREs), Craters of Historical And Scientific Merit (CHASMs) and other Sites of Historical Interest To Engineers (no current acronym).
Leading the way
Some potholes on the Island are now so old and well-established they meet the requirements for protection under the terms of the 1978 Modern Architecture Defence (MAD) act, passed to ensure the best and worst features of modern town planning, civil engineering and civic maintenance are preserved for future generations.
A spokesman for the MAD society commented,
“The Isle of Wight stands well clear of the field in regards to potholes, and it is fitting that the first such protected features will be on the Island.
“It would be tantamount to historical vandalism were these potholes ever to be repaired.”
“Cultural vandalism”
Indeed, Islanders have been mourning the loss of some particularly long-standing potholes in one road on the Isle of Wight this week.
The resurfacing of Spring Hill in Ventnor has been described as “cultural vandalism” by members of the local heritage group.
The Adgestone effect
Surprisingly, the giant pothole in Adgestone – which has so far buckled two-hundred and thirty-seven wheels, as well as consuming six cyclists and an entire Mini Cooper – is not flagged for preservation and remains at the top of the current repair list, with work scheduled to begin in August 2023.
