Sinkhole in Godstone: Update

Update 24.02.25

Matt Furniss, Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth, said: “Surrey County Council’s highways teams are continuing to work around the clock to manage the sinkhole incident in Godstone High Street.”

“Specialist ground penetrating radar equipment to carry out further ground assessments, is due to arrive on Tuesday evening. This will enable us to ascertain what is below the surface and to understand what further surveys we need to carry out. These comprehensive assessments will help to inform how best to safely stabilise and repair the site.

“Due to the unprecedented nature of this incident, we expect the full-scale repair of the site to take several more months. Along with Tandridge District Council, we’ll continue to keep residents and businesses updated as our works progress and we thank them for their ongoing patience as we deal with this complex incident.”

Update 20.02.25

Carl Bussey, Surrey County Council Assistant Director for Safer Communities and Chair of the Strategic Coordination Group for the incident said: “We’re well aware that the longer this incident continues, the greater the disruption for residents impacted. We thank them for their patience and commit to working as quickly and safely as possible to support them and return the situation to normal.

“This is now being treated as an ongoing significant incident as work continues to ensure the site is stable and repair work can begin. All agencies remain focused on that work and are working together effectively.

“Tandridge District Council has an information centre in Godstone for affected residents for the rest of this week. Anyone seeking further information and support should call the contact centre on 01883 722000.”

“Road closures and diversions remain in place and Ringway contractors on behalf of Surrey County Council will manage the site and cordon going forward. Residents will be granted supervised access to property to collect belongings.

“We will continue to conduct technical assessments of the area and if there are homes that are deemed structurally safe then residents will be able to return home.

“However the full-scale repair of the site will likely take several weeks, if not months.”

Update 19.02.25

Carl Bussey, Surrey County Council Assistant Director for Safer Communities and Chair of the Strategic Coordination Group for the incident said: “We understand the disruption this incident is causing for residents, and I thank them for their patience at this time. Our primary objective is to keep everybody safe.

“The site continues to be assessed by structural experts, in order to manage the risk and understand what needs to be done to make safe and repair.

“Utility companies have successfully isolated supplies, where required. Properties in the wider area have access to water and power as normal, with impacted homes confined to within the cordon. More permanent repairs will be carried out once the site is deemed safe to work in.

“Residents affected continue to be supported and advised by Tandridge District Council.

“The highway remains closed, with diversions in place, and a technical group will establish timeframes for recovery.

“We will continue to keep residents updated as the work continues.”

Original update 18.02.25

The development of a sinkhole in Godstone has been declared a Major Incident by local agencies in Surrey. In response, all member agencies of the Surrey Local Resilience Forum are providing support, with Surrey County Council leading the coordination efforts.

Carl Bussey, Surrey County Council Assistant Director for Safer Communities and Chair of the Strategic Coordination Group for the incident said: “We are working together with emergency services and utility companies, as well as our highways colleagues and Tandridge District Council, to protect the public and property in the area.

“Investigations are continuing to make the area safe and to repair utilities, and we ask that people remain away from the vicinity while that important work is ongoing. We will keep people updated as the situation develops.

“Residents from within the cordon – around 30 properties – are being supported by Tandridge District Council with advice around accommodation. Highways diversions are also in place.

“The Local Resilience Forum will continue to meet throughout this incident to ensure everything is being done to resolve the situation as quickly and safely as possible.”

Please follow Surrey County Council, Surrey Highways and Tandridge District Council social media for updates.