Residents celebrate sinkhole's 'fourth birthday'

Many happy returns: the sinkhole was treated to balloons and a birthday poster

Residents are celebrating what they say is the fourth birthday of a sinkhole that has become a "running joke" in the community.

Station Road in Castle Cary, Somerset, was closed to all vehicles on 4 May due to a sinkhole near the pavement.

But residents said issues on the road had been around for much longer and they have now put up balloons and a poster proclaiming "Happy 4th Birthday Sinkhole!" on a barrier around the affected area.

Somerset Council said it was arranging repairs on the road soon but it needed to find the best time to avoid disruption.

Charlie Duck, 18, said the hole had become a local landmark.

"We drive past it and say 'I'm just at the sinkhole'," he said.

"It's become [one of] us now, part of the community."

Resident David Lee added: "The situation now really has become a running joke with the people who live here and have to bypass it every day.

"It's more or less made walking into town a bit of a nightmare. It keeps our wheelchair and pushchair users agile as they negotiate its ramps and 90 degree turns."

David Lee said the closure had been a nightmare for pedestrians

A council spokesperson said temporary traffic lights were first put in place in July 2024 after the hole appeared.

They added: "The team had earlier attempted to make good what appeared to be a drop in the road level. It became apparent the issue was much more complex and could involve utilities and other parties.

"Investigations into possible causes were unsuccessful and the watercourse running below has become restricted and it is not possible to examine this further until we fully excavate the road."

The birthday boy

Wendy Hunt, 69, said the sinkhole had been there far too long.

"The amount they have spent on the traffic lights probably could have been spent on mending it," she said.

She went on to describe it as a hazard to the construction of a new housing estate.

"It's just been destructive," she added. "The lights are off and on red at both ends, so it's an accident waiting to happen."

Daphne Murrie said residents were fed up with inaction over the sinkhole

Her comments were echoed by Daphne Murrie, 81, who said she was "fed up with nothing being done" about the "sinkhole saga".

She said she had dealt with the disruption since moving to the area more than two years ago.

She added: "With all the building works that are starting opposite it, we're worried it will give way and the road will be shut for good, and then what?"