ONE Basingstoke resident has come up with a unique way of warning motorists of dangerous potholes, to put plants in them.
Paul Potter, 69, of Buckland Avenue, South Ham badly injured himself when he came off his bike two weeks ago when he went through a pothole in Kingsclere Road.
After shattering the bones in his right wrist, the father-of-two thought people could suffer serious injuries due to these potholes so took it upon himself to fill in any holes he sees.
"After I came off my bike my daughters Rose and Lilly said to me that somebody should do something about these dangers on our roads," Mr Potter told The Gazette.
"My wife works at a garden centre and is always bringing plants and flowers home and we just don't have the space, so I thought it would be a great signifier to motorists that there is danger ahead.
"Plus if it can brighten up someones day by seeing a plant in the middle of the road then that is an added bonus."
Mr Potter's unique solution has certainly caught the attention of residents around the borough, with one resident writing into The Gazette saying: "I was driving down Sullivan Road the other day and I just saw this colourful object at the side of the road. As I got closer it was a bunch of potted Gladiolus. I couldn't believe my eyes."
This comes after Hampshire Highways’ announced extra teams would out across the county tackling the worst of the damage caused to the roads by the recent severe cold snaps.
However, Mr Potter said the work being carried out by Hampshire Highways didn't account for the smaller potholes like the one he hit during his accident.
He added: "I appreciate what Hampshire County Council are doing and the extra funding is great, but in the interim if I just put a couple of Begonia's in the road I'm sure its not going to hurt anyway."
If you see one of Mr Potter's planted potholes send us a picture to newsdesk@basingstokegazette.co.uk.
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