Situation still 'fluid' one month on from sinkhole

One month on from a huge sinkhole opening up on a Surrey street, the "fluid" situation still leaves residents in a state of uncertainty.

The ground opened up on Godstone High Street late on 17 February, and quickly a major incident was declared by authorities.

Shortly after 00:30 GMT on 18 February, police told people living in William Way, Godstone, to "get out as quickly as possible".

While some residents have since returned, others have been told it may be up to a year before they can go home.

Tandridge District Council is now leading the operation, since downgraded to a significant incident.

It has allocated up to £800,000 from its general contingency fund for temporary accommodation for up to 12 months, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Highway teams are working on the site in a situation that is continuing to develop, a meeting on Tuesday heard.

"There have been some minor collapses around the edge of the hole," a Tandridge council officer said, describing it as a "fluid situation".

He added the breakages were potentially linked to pouring foam cement into the hole in attempts to stabilise it.

Earlier in March, the high street had partially reopened to allow vehicular access as far as the sinkhole.

Councillor Jeremy Pursehouse told the meeting: "Nobody has actually got to the bottom of this sinkhole and what has caused it yet.

"We don't know how long it will take to fix it or anything."

Meanwhile, the 30 evacuated households have either found their own interim accommodation, supported by their insurance, or are being assisted by the council.

The council has a legal duty to find displaced residents temporary accommodation.

Officers said return dates would depend on the safety of the site, utilities being connected, site access, structural integrity of the houses and ultimately whether building control said it was safe.

The council has agreed to fund each of the families £500 a week to pay for somewhere to stay.

One resident previously told the BBC he had slept in three different properties in the previous four nights.

Diego Silva said the whole thing had been a "nightmare" and that spending a night in a Travelodge with his wife and baby "wasn't ideal".

Two Godstone residents had told councillor Louise Case that their house sale had fallen through because the potential buyers could not get insurance.

James Devonshire, head of housing for Tandridge, said Surrey County Council was surveying a wider area which would provide confidence in the long-term to insurance companies.

Riverdale Developments, the housebuilder behind the homes in William Way which were completed in 2020, previously said extensive ground investigations were carried out before work started.

A spokesperson added: "The development is on piled foundations to suit the ground conditions and was overseen by approved contractors in accordance with NHBC standards."

Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, and on X. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.