'I'm counting the seconds until sinkhole is gone'

A Godstone resident whose family was evacuated for more than 240 days due to the sinkhole in the village's High Street said he was "counting the seconds" until work was finished.

Rez Miri's family was one of 30 households forced out of their homes after a gaping hole opened on 17 February, 2025.

Now, Miri said he was looking forward to the road being reopened following the works to repair the hole, which Surrey County Council (SCC) had previously said would be completed at the end of spring.

SCC said in an update on its website that it would be able to indicate an opening date by the end of May.

Miri told BBC Radio Surrey: "We were gone for about eight months in four different homes.

"When they are working during the day I can't allow my children to go outside because there's so much dust and smoke.

"I'm just counting down the seconds until they finish it. I think it will be a big relief for Godstone, especially for local businesses."

Hopes had initially been raised that the works would be finished by December 2025, but this was later pushed back until the spring as SCC insisted the work required "more than just the repair of a road".

In February, shortly before the one-year anniversary of the sinkhole opening, the council told the BBC that repairs had cost £2.3m and were expected to top £3m by the end of the project.

SCC said it had handed over the site to SES Water on 20 April, who will now "carry out their repairs and works to reinstate the damaged pipes".

"Once their works are completed, Surrey Highways will be able to return to site to finish the reconstruction of the collapsed section of the road, ahead of its reopening," a spokesperson said.

SES Water was approached for comment.

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