Godstone High Street is set to reopen this Friday, July 31, ending a 528-day closure caused by a massive sinkhole that split the Surrey village in half. The 19-metre-long and 3-metre-wide chasm first appeared on February 18, 2025, forcing the evacuation of nearby homes and disrupting traffic flow ever since.
Confirmation from officials
East Surrey MP Claire Coutinho announced on Facebook that she had received confirmation of the reopening from SES Water, the utility company handling the final repairs. SES Water confirmed the date to Surrey Live, stating that the project is in its "last stages." Coutinho remarked: “This seemingly never-ending saga has dragged on for nearly eighteen months, and while I am sure no one is in the mood for celebrations, I hope the reopening will allow people to get back to their lives. But ultimately, lessons must be learnt from this incident. With the liability assessment to come, I will continue to ask questions and push for answers.”
Cause and impact on businesses
The sinkhole is believed to have been caused by a burst water main. The closure has severely affected local businesses, with many owners pleading for additional tax relief due to the restricted traffic flow. Surrey County Council transport lead Councillor Matt Furniss said: “I am delighted that our work to repair and resurface the roads affected by the Godstone road collapse was completed earlier this month. SES works remain ongoing and the reopening date for Godstone High Street will be determined by their completion date. I would like to thank residents and businesses for their patience while we have dealt with this challenging incident. Fundamentally, our focus has always been on getting this right to ensure the area is safe and stable for local people, and those travelling through the area.”
Final stages of repair
An SES Water spokesperson said: "We are pleased to confirm that Godstone High Street will reopen on Friday 31st July in liaison with Surrey County Council. We are now completing the last stages of our project ahead of leaving the site ahead of the road reopening. We understand the impact of these works and we would like to thank everyone for their continued patience and understanding."
