Massive sinkhole closes main road in Gloucestershire village

The sinkhole is 3.5m deep and 5m wide

A deep sinkhole has appeared in the middle of a road in a Gloucestershire town. An urgent investigation revealed a fault with a drainage system which is believed has led to the sinkhole under the road.

On Friday, June 13, Gloucestershire County Council closed a section of the B4058 Rushmire Hill in Coombe, near Wotton-under-Edge for safety reasons due to a sinkhole appearing. An urgent investigation revealed a fault with a drainage system belonging to Wessex Water and they are now carrying out their own investigations.

Beneath the surface of the road the hole is approximately 3.5metres deep and 5metres wide, so a full road closure is necessary until the drainage system is repaired and the road is made stable again. Gloucestershire County Council say they appreciate the impact of the road closure has local residents and businesses and are working with Wessex Water to resolve the problem as soon as possible.

Cabinet member for highways maintenance at Gloucestershire County Council, Councillor Joe Harris, said: “A large sinkhole appeared on Rushmire Hill on Friday, and we fenced off the area to keep the public safe. Our investigation found that the drainage system in the area is owned by Wessex Water, and we believe the work will come under their responsibility unless their excavation work shows there is another contributing factor to the sinkhole. They are currently at the site carrying out work and repairs.

A sinkhole in the road has resulted in the partial closure of the B4058 Rushmire Hill

“Once we’ve reviewed the results of the investigation, we’ll decide on the best course of action and share an update as soon as we can. We’d like to thank residents for their patience and understanding while we work to resolve this issue.”

Wessex Water have said the sinkhole has been caused by a damaged underground sewer system.

A Wessex Water spokesperson said: “We are currently carrying out investigations and preparations to ensure repairs can be made safely and effectively.

“We are working with Gloucestershire County Council Highways to ensure disruption to local residents, businesses and road users is kept to a minimum. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”