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West Street reopens after two months of closure
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West Street reopens after two months of closure

A downtown road, closed for more than two months because of a sinkhole, has reopened.

Thames Water announced on Monday that work to lay around 34m (112ft) of new surface sewer pipes in Dorking had been completed.

The sinkhole forced the closure of West Street to traffic when it appeared on August 30.

Thames Water has since identified no more pipes needing repairs – partly because of rubble that was swept away by an initial collapse and because of other structural problems in the masonry, a spokesperson said.

They said the initial collapse was caused by utility work carried out by third parties.

After discussions with Surrey County Council, the decision was made to return in 2025 to carry out the necessary further repairs.

“We feel it is important to mention that due to the nature of this work, it will be necessary to close West Street again for the next phase of this work,” the spokesperson continued.

“However, we would like to assure you that we will notify you in advance of the expected start date of this work.”

The risk of further problems with the sewers is low, but if there are problems it may be necessary to “expedite repairs and works under emergency conditions”, the water company said .

Businesses affected by road closure may submit business loss claims to Thames Water.