A two-metre deep sinkhole which opened up in a residential road may not be fixed for another week.

The hole, which appeared in the middle of Saint James Road in Watford at around midday on June 23, was cordoned off for public safety when people living in the street reported it to the council’s highways department.

A highways officer from Hertfordshire County Council said the hole “doesn’t show any signs of it being caused by a broken sewer” and that the matter was now in the hands of highway maintenance providers, Ringway.

Watford Observer:

Work to repair the area could take at least another week while Ringway carry out their “investigation”.

The opening in the tarmac is the size of a large dinner plate and there appears to be a slight depression around the area.

West Watford county councillor, Nigel Bell, said: “I want this to be actioned as soon as possible for Saint James Road residents who have been and are being very patient and deserve to be kept informed by Ringway engineers so they can go about their daily lives with as little disruption as possible.”

Sophie Colgate, who has lived Saint James Road for twenty years, said: “My husband Matthew came back from work saying, ‘there’s a sinkhole in the road’.

“I called highways and they said they would send someone out and by then time we had been into town the police were here to cordon it off.”
Speaking about how it has affected traffic in her road, Sophie said: “The parking is marvellous on the other side (of the cordon) because nothing can come down to meet them.”

Sophie said the council had initially said the hole would be fixed by today (June 27).

Watford Observer:

A Royal Mail postman delivering parcels, said: “It will affect me because I have to deliver beyond the cordon.

“The potholes are everywhere in Watford and I’d say they’re bad here – I’m a cyclist.”

A spokesperson from Hertfordshire County Council said: "The road has been closed to make the area safe. Our contractors Ringway will begin investigation works today.

"Once this has started, we will have a more accurate idea of how long the repair will take.

"A team is on site and has been speaking regularly to residents to update them."

The county council asked for the hole not to be called a "sinkhole" and instead for it to be described as a "void".