Businesses fear Dorking sinkhole will damage trade

Paul Harman said he feared repair works could still be in place in the run-up to the Christmas period

Business owners are worried a sinkhole which appeared in a Dorking road is damaging trade.

It first appeared in West Street - home to many of the Surrey town's antique shops - on 30 August, and has since been investigated by Thames Water.

It means the road has had to be closed to traffic while urgent repairs are done and traders fear it could be weeks before it reopens.

Thames Water said engineers were currently surveying the site to plan out repair works.

Businesses are concerned about the impact on passing trade

Paul Harman who runs Harmans, an interiors shop on the street, said it had caused "carnage" and the lack of traffic had impacted passing trade.

“When [shoppers] are going along they look in the shop windows and see things in shops and stop... but we are getting no passing trade whatsoever," he said.

Glyn Elias has been at the Dorking Desk Shop for 50 years, but said West Street was the quietest it had ever been.

He restores antiques in his workshop and said customers were unable to drop items off easily currently.

Meanwhile Basil Doha, who runs Mullins Coffee Shop on the street - which is opposite the sinkhole - said it had caused him to lose passing trade, as well as regular shoppers.

Basil Doha said the issue "started with a dip and developed into a big sinkhole"

Monica Draper, who runs Monica’s Deli, encouraged customers to visit despite the road closure.

"[People] can still come to Dorking, because there are other ways to get to the car park and they can still come and see us," she said.

Last week, Surrey Highways said the sinkhole resulted from the failure of a surface water line, stretching for about 50m (164ft).

Thames Water said representatives would contact businesses to advise them how to apply for a loss of business claim

A Thames Water spokesperson said: “Due to the pipe's location, we are also working with the local council to agree traffic management measures, so that our teams can safely carry out the repair."

It added that it was "sorry" to residents, businesses and drivers affected by the works.

In a letter to Thames Water, Chris Coghlan, the Lib Dem MP for Dorking and Horley, said the street was a "critical part" of the one-way traffic system through the town.

"You will appreciate that every day of delay is causing significant stress and material economic damage," he added.

Mr Coghlan urged the firm to confirm when repair works would begin, and when the road was expected to reopen.

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