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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 Huge sinkhole appears in high street
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 328ft (100m) 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. A Surrey Highways spokesperson advised people to avoid the area.
"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. Drone images show the extent of the damage caused by the sinkhole
"It's filled with water so there's no real telling how far down it goes." Rez Mira and his family had to leave his home in the early hours of Tuesday morning and stayed with relatives.
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 returned to find his garden falling into the sinkhole.
Emergency services said the road would likely be closed for some time "It's collapsed, the wall will come down, for sure," he said.
"Please avoid the area and use alternative routes," a Surrey Highways spokesperson said. "We're just terrified. We have to figure out where to live now. Next week school is going back and we have to find somewhere close by."
Rez Mira spent the night with relatives in Croydon but says he has to find somewhere closer
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.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. Rez Mira returned to his house to find the garden disappearing into the sinkhole
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.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 Godstone High Street has been closed after a large sinkhole opened in the road
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." Heavy machinery had been brought in to Godstone High Street on Tuesday morning
Another neighbour, Mel Henderson, said: "The water was everywhere. It's flooded the drains, and the ground was all flooded." Josh Neame was evacuated, having only moved into his property six days earlier, and spent the night sleeping in his car parked by the local green.
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. "They've just let me in now - over my shoulder is a bag of toiletries, pants and socks to get me through," he said.
"We've no water for the next few days I think."
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."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."My life's still in boxes, I hadn't even unpacked from the house move.
"Not what you wanted on a Monday night.""Not what you wanted on a Monday night."
People have been moving out of the properties closest to the sinkhole The sinkhole appeared late on Monday night
Neighbour Leslie Burnett said there was a system of caves below many of the houses. Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council's cabinet member for highways, said by 09:30 GMT on Tuesday the hole had grown to 65ft (20m) by 20ft (6m).
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).
"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.