2 weeks Ago By [email protected] (Emily Dalton)
Life has been much quieter than usual in a quaint Surrey village after a huge sinkhole opened up . Six weeks on, and with the hole now around 65ft, neighbours and businesses are still reeling from the impact. What caused Godstone High Street to dramatically collapse is still unknown .
Surrey Highways teams state it could take “several months” for the hole to be fixed and the road to return to normal. SurreyLive spoke to neighbours and business owners about what life has been like after the dust settled and how the community is pulling together to ensure people and businesses affected get the support they need. Carol Ward, who cares for her elderly mum, was not evacuated but lives near the cordons on the high street.
Soon after the road collapsed, Carol set up a support group for people who wanted to help, those who needed support and to share information. “It has impacted the whole of the Godstone community . I’ve got an elderly mum and she finds it more difficult to access the green as she has to go the long way round because of the barriers.
” The sinkhole has divided the village with cordons and barriers in place to keep people safe, the traffic away and allow workers space to try to repair the hole. What used to be a simple walk down the high street to the shops, pubs and pond, is a now detour via hilly roads and paths to connect with the other side of the village. “It’s completely transformed my life,” said Carol, who has only lived in the village for a year.
Before the sinkhole tore through the high street, she said she was feeling a bit isolated. “I’m more out there in the community, I’m doing more to help and support other people,” she told SurreyLive. Good news finally came knocking last week as some residents who had been evacuated were told they could safely return home .
Out of the 26 that were allowed back only four families have returned, according to Leader of Tandridge District Council , Catherine Sayer. Not everyone has been disrupted by the 65ft hole, some have been making the most of the road closure by calmly working from home, keeping the windows wide open or sunbathing in the garden. “It’s been heavenly,” said one neighbour who did not give her name.
“It’s been so peaceful without the huge trucks rumbling past every five minutes.” Speaking to SurreyLive, she explained how usually the “windows and doors shake” as the heavy goods vehicles roar past. She added she did sympathise with those who have had to leave their homes.
"I was busier in the pandemic" But for others the sinkhole has had disastrous consequences, businesses are struggling and their owners are keen to do encourage shoppers to come back to support them. “We call it the ‘north end’ of Godstone now,” said Will McLean, owner of Dorwyn doors and windows on the high street, “It’s ridiculous, I was busier in a national pandemic than a hole in the road.” Will lives at the other side of the hole but said the main impact of the collapse, other than a slightly longer commute to work, is his business has just dropped.
He said usually at least two or three people would come in and order each week. He added: “Since the sinkhole we have not had one customer come in and order doors and windows. I’m having to use my Reigate shop to subsidise this store.
” Although his window and door business started in the Godstone in 2020, if the lack of customers continues Will said he may be forced to shut up shop. “Unless [the council] helps us out, you’re going to have a load of empty shops,” Will said. Many car parking spaces have been suspended in the village to allow heavy goods vehicles to pass through.
But now villagers and visitors have nowhere to park. Will said he has had customers who were unable to park in the village to visit the shop and ended up going elsewhere. Although Tandridge District Council has suspended business rates for those affected by the hole, Will claimed: “What the council is offering is no help at all.
” He argued many of the shops on the high street have such small premises they do not have to pay business rates anyway. "We don’t know when it will end" "Godstone is really the epicentre of the world,” Mark Cullinan, who has been running the Hare and Hounds with his wife for over 20 years. Nestled between the main A25 road and near the A22, the quaint Surrey village would normally see hundreds of cars an hour.
But now it’s dropped to about 30, Mark said. “We just don’t know when it’s going to end,” he said. “It’s crazy how in this day and age they can’t just fix a hole in the road .
” He accused the council of “walking away” from local businesses and “doing nothing”. He suggested the highways team open part of the road on the high street with alternating traffic lights so some traffic flow could go down. Speaking to SurreyLive, the landlord complained that he has seen a 30 per cent drop in business since the road collapsed.
“Passing trade has just disappeared,” Mark said. “It’s very difficult to get up and motivate yourself in the morning when you have gone from doing 30-40 meals in an afternoon to two.” Signs advertising Godstone as ‘open for business’ have been peppered around the town, hoping to encourage more visitors.
But shop owners have decided to take matters into their own hands. Frustrated with the once bustling village now a trundling ghost town, shop owners have reclaimed the situation and clubbed together to make a new ‘Godstone is open for business’ poster with their names on it. Leader of the council, Councillor Catherine Sayer, said: “The council has suspended all business rates for businesses within the roadworks cordon to support those directly affected.
We are also reviewing whether our business rates hardship scheme could apply to a wider range of businesses. "We will share details once we have clarity. Godstone is very much open for business and we continue to work closely with local businesses to provide support where possible.
” She added: “The pubs, cafes and shops are all open. It is a beautiful part of the world. The village green and pond look lovely and we’re surrounded by the stunning Surrey Hills National Landscape.
" “We’ve done our best,” the council leader said, explaining those evacuated were either provided temporary accommodation or given £500 a week towards it. She added that the council and officers have tried to keep residents and business informed by holding public meetings, posting on social media and doing interviews. Got a story you want to share? Email me at emily.
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