Man 'could be sued for fixing potholes'

A local councillor who personally paid to fix potholes on an access road has been told that he could be sued for acting without consent.

Geoffrey Martin, 65, paid £2,500 to repair the road in Rugeley, Staffordshire to put an end to a three-year dispute over responsibility between the Earl of Lichfield and two councils, the Lichfield Mercury reports.

Retired haulage contractor Martin said: "It was making health and safety a complete mockery. I had a lot of complaints from people and I pursued it and pursued it.

"But it got to the point where my family and I decided it had gone on too long and it just had to be sorted out. The safety of the people of Rugeley is much more important to me than money."

He added: "I am absolutely delighted this has finally been sorted and I'm sure the people of Rugeley will be absolutely delighted as well."

Cannock Chase council leader Neil Stanley claimed that Martin had potentially acted without consent and could face legal action from the owner as a consequence.

However, Martin added: "I am sure any judge would think I have done the right thing."