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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Godstone: Huge sinkhole appears in high street causing closure | Godstone: Huge sinkhole appears in high street causing closure |
| (about 1 hour 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 sinkhole emerged. | Buildings have been evacuated and part of a high street in Surrey has been closed after a large sinkhole 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. |
| Heavy machinery had been brought in to Godstone High Street on Tuesday morning | |
| 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. | 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, and on a couple of occasions I've heard some cracking and seen the hole getting bigger," he said. | |
| "It's filled with water so there's no real telling how far down it goes." | "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." | 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 | 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, a spokesperson for the company 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. |
| Robin Sherry said he and and his family were evacuated from their home in William Way at about 00:30 GMT on Tuesday by police, who told him "to get out as quick as possible" over fears of an explosion caused by exposed cables. | |
| "I booked a hotel down the road, but I know some people stayed in their car and some people went to families," he said. | "I booked a hotel down the road, but I know some people stayed in their car and some people went to families," he 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 on Monday. | Local resident Paul Whelan described how quickly the sinkhole developed, after pictures were initially posted on social media at about 23:00 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." |
| Her husband added: "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 | The sinkhole appeared late on Monday night |
| Josh Neame was also evacuated, having only moved into his property six days earlier, and spent the night sleeping in his car parked by the local green. | |
| "They've just let me in now" he said, "over my shoulder is a bag of toiletries, pants and socks to get me through. | |
| "I don't know what's going to come from here, no-one can give me any info. They said it could be up to a week before we're back in. I don't think they know what state the mains gas and electric's in, so it was risk of explosion, fire, collapse. | |
| "My life's still in boxes, I hadn't even unpacked from the house move. | |
| "Not what you wanted on a Monday night." | |
| People have been moving out of the properties closest to the sinkhole | |
| Neighbour Leslie Burnett said there was a system of caves below many of the houses. | Neighbour Leslie Burnett said there was a system of caves below many of the houses. |
| She said: "Nobody knows quite how far they go, but every so often holes appear." | She said: "Nobody knows quite how far they go, but every so often holes appear." |
| Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council's cabinet member for highways, said by 09:30 on Tuesday the hole had grown to 20m (65ft) by 6m (20ft). | Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council's cabinet member for highways, said by 09:30 on Tuesday the hole had grown to 20m (65ft) by 6m (20ft). |
| "At this stage, we're working with the utility companies. Our key aim at the moment is to secure the sight and make it safe," he said. | "At this stage, we're working with the utility companies. Our key aim at the moment is to secure the sight and make it safe," he said. |
| 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. |