Businesses affected six months after road closure

Business owners in Surrey blighted by a massive sinkhole say they are fed up of people thinking their village is closed six months on.

Residents in Godstone say shops, pubs and restaurants are continuing to see a downturn in trade due to ongoing repairs to a large sinkhole in the High Street, which formed in February.

Pub landlord Mark Cullinan said he was facing a 40% downturn in footfall, as businesses stress that Godstone is open for trade.

A Surrey County Council spokesperson said it hoped to reopen the road in December and investigations on the “highly complex incident” were continuing.

Mr Cullinan, who runs the Hare and Hounds in Godstone, said: “Normally we are very busy in the week – it’s a prime location but we are down on where we were last year.

“Businesses are fine but they need help.”

Road traffic is still subject to a three-mile (4.8km) diversion, which Godstone Parish Council chairman Steve Beagley described as a “considerable disadvantage”.

He added: “Our message to customers is the village is open – we are here so support us.”

A Surrey County Council spokesperson said work was under way to reconstruct the road, adding it was “continuing surveys and other investigations”.

It said: “We hope to have the road re-opened during December this year, but our focus will be on ensuring the road is safe to use so the exact date will be confirmed once we are fully assured of this.”