National ‘Mr Pothole’ Visits Isle Of Wight To Inspect Roads

The Isle of Wight welcomed a familiar face in the world of road safety and maintenance this week, as Mark Morrell, better known as Mr Pothole, visited the Island to inspect local roads.

Mr Morrell is a national campaigner who has spent over a decade highlighting the state of Britain’s roads, founding National Pothole Day, helping repair more than 10,000 potholes, and influencing over £5 million of resurfacing projects.

He has also provided guidance to communities using legal powers under the Highways Act to get problem roads repaired.

During his short visit to the Island with his wife, Mr Morrell took the opportunity to assess the condition of roads managed by Island Roads.

While he praised the maintenance of the Island’s main routes, he identified a number of residential streets in need of resurfacing.

“Overall the Island’s main roads appear to be in good condition and being maintained well,” Mr Morrell said.

“There are a few locations, such as High Street in Godshill, that require some large patching works.”

He also highlighted Fairy Road in Seaview as an example of a residential street showing signs of wear.

He noted that plans are already in place for major carriageway work on the road this October, adding that it was encouraging to see local authorities addressing problem areas.

Mr Morrell also spoke to staff from Island Roads, who suggested that road conditions have improved under the current PFI contract — a view the campaigner seemed to agree with.

However, he raised concerns about the quality of surfaces following utility reinstatement work, citing feedback from his wife, who has back and spinal conditions.

Mr Morrell has previously drawn attention to road issues across the UK and internationally, appearing on Japanese and French television and contributing evidence to a Transport Select Committee report titled Filling the Gap.

His social media posts during the visit gave followers a firsthand look at the Island’s roads and ongoing maintenance efforts.

“It’s good to see that major carriageway works are planned for October,” he said, “but there’s always more to do to keep residential streets safe and smooth for drivers.”

Residents can report road defects directly via the Isle of Wight Council’s website or contact Island Roads for more information on upcoming repairs.