This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c07k778v3nno
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Godstone: Huge sinkhole appears in high street causing closure | Godstone: Huge sinkhole appears in high street causing closure |
(32 minutes later) | |
Godstone High Street has been closed after a large sinkhole opened in the road | Godstone High Street has been closed after a large sinkhole opened in the road |
Buildings have been evacuated and part of a high street in Surrey has been closed after a large sink hole emerged. | |
Police have closed Godstone High Street between Oxted Road and Bletchingley Road. | Police have closed Godstone High Street between Oxted Road and Bletchingley Road. |
A 100m (328ft) cordon has also been put in place. | A 100m (328ft) cordon has also been put in place. |
The road is likely to remain closed for an extended period of time, police said. | The road is likely to remain closed for an extended period of time, police said. |
A small number of buildings have been evacuated as a precaution while the emergency services respond, they added. | A small number of buildings have been evacuated as a precaution while the emergency services respond, they added. |
BBC Radio Surrey reporter Adrian Harms said the sinkhole was at least 19m (62ft) long and about 3m (10ft) wide. | |
"I've been here for about an hour and a half," he said, "and on a couple of occasions I've heard some cracking and seen the hole getting bigger. | |
"It's filled with water so there's no real telling how far down it goes." | |
He added: "If you think of a scene from an earthquake where the road is buckled and the pavement's buckled, that's exactly what it's like here." | |
Emergency services said the road would likely be closed for some time | |
"Please avoid the area and use alternative routes," a Surrey Highways spokesperson said. | "Please avoid the area and use alternative routes," a Surrey Highways spokesperson said. |
SES Water said it was aware of a burst water main in Godstone High Street in the early hours of Tuesday morning, which was affecting water supply to homes in the area. | SES Water said it was aware of a burst water main in Godstone High Street in the early hours of Tuesday morning, which was affecting water supply to homes in the area. |
Teams had been deployed to carry out urgent work, an SES Water spokesperson said. | Teams had been deployed to carry out urgent work, an SES Water spokesperson said. |
"We're really sorry for the disruption this is causing and are doing all we can to resolve the situation as quickly as possible," they said. | "We're really sorry for the disruption this is causing and are doing all we can to resolve the situation as quickly as possible," they said. |
Local resident Paul Whelan said the hole was only a couple of feet wide when it was first reported | Local resident Paul Whelan said the hole was only a couple of feet wide when it was first reported |
Local resident Paul Whelan described how quickly the sinkhole developed, after pictures were initially posted on social media at about 23:00 GMT on Monday. | Local resident Paul Whelan described how quickly the sinkhole developed, after pictures were initially posted on social media at about 23:00 GMT on Monday. |
"A hole maybe a couple of feet across started up," he told BBC Radio Surrey. "Now it's grown quite a lot after the burst water main. | "A hole maybe a couple of feet across started up," he told BBC Radio Surrey. "Now it's grown quite a lot after the burst water main. |
"It's made a real mess. It's going to take a few hours work to sort this out." | "It's made a real mess. It's going to take a few hours work to sort this out." |
Another neighbour, Mel Henderson, said: "The water was everywhere. It's flooded the drains, and the ground was all flooded." | Another neighbour, Mel Henderson, said: "The water was everywhere. It's flooded the drains, and the ground was all flooded." |
Meanwhile, her husband said: "Even standing here for half an hour last night you could see it was getting worse, and it's a lot bigger this morning. | Meanwhile, her husband said: "Even standing here for half an hour last night you could see it was getting worse, and it's a lot bigger this morning. |
"We've no water for the next few days I think." | "We've no water for the next few days I think." |
The sinkhole appeared late on Monday night | |
Neighbour Leslie Burnett said there was a system of caves below many of the houses. | |
"Nobody knows quite how far they go" she said, "but every so often holes appear." | |
Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, on X. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. | Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, on X. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. |