Christmas event optimism despite sinkhole delays

Businesses are expecting good turnouts for the first of their Christmas events in Godstone, despite ongoing disruption from a massive sinkhole in their village.

Ever since a sinkhole blocked the main road through the Surrey village in February, local businesses have been reporting a downturn in trade.

SES Water had previously said the void could be repaired by December, but since confirmed repair work would continue until at least March.

Godstone Emporium told BBC Radio Surrey the village was "very good at supporting us" but they had still "lost all the passing trade".

"Initially it was really bad but I think a lot of people now have worked out how to get to us," shop owner Sylvia said.

The shop is hosting a Christmas event on Saturday and Sunday.

Workers repairing the sinkhole "uncovered a much larger tunnel network than expected", the council has said

Visitor attraction Godstone Farm, located just outside the village, said the sinkhole diversions "made it more complicated for some of our visitors to get here, but they're still coming".

General manager Simon Ingram told the BBC bookings were "looking pretty good" for its Christmas event, which starts on Saturday.

Local customers "are just used to it now" but visitors from further afield "find it a little bit more difficult", according to Mr Ingram.

General manager Simon Ingram said bookings were "looking pretty good" for its Christmas events

He said: "It's only a few more minutes on the journey so it certainly shouldn't put people off."

Godstone Farm had "a great deal of sympathy" for businesses within the village itself that "rely more on passing trade" and were "very significantly affected", Mr Ingram said.

Mark Cullinan, landlord of the Hare and Hounds pub, said on Monday his trade had dropped "quite considerably" and "people who used to come through the village are now going different ways".

Parts of the pavement in Godstone have reopened to pedestrians but vehicle traffic is still unable to use the closed road.

SES Water told its customers it had begun some repairs in an area outside the Surrey County Council cordon.

• What is a sinkhole and how does it form?

The water company said it was in the process of re-lining one mains water pipe beneath the road but was waiting for assurances the ground was safe before it could re-lay a separate mains pipe.

The council said work continued to "fully understand the extent of the underground mine network and to fill and stabilise the caves" that were uncovered.

Workers "uncovered a much larger tunnel network than expected" and the sand uncovered was "very unstable", a spokesperson said on Monday.