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The Independent
34 minutes ago
- The Independent
Mystery of massive sinkhole that engulfed Surrey street closer to being solved
A massive sinkhole that engulfed a street in Surrey in February started with a burst water main, engineers have said. For the past six months, repair workers in the village of Godstone have been trying to solve the mystery of its cause. However, they say they are still not ready to blame the burst for the appearance of the hole. They uncovered a network of abandoned Victorian sand mining tunnels under the ground in June, which residents had been aware of for decades. Surrey County Council infrastructure manager Lloyd Allen, who oversees the repairs, told the BBC: "We don't know what caused the water main burst.' He said the engineers first on the scene after the hole's appearance realised the water was disappearing underground - an unusually large amount of water to naturally soak into the sand. Mr Allen said: "So that's why we started our investigations, talking to the people that lived in the area who know about the mines. It took some months using lots of different techniques to find them." Engineers have been plotting the tunnels by driving boreholes into the sandstone, a process he said had been made more complicated by the cables and pipes that sit underground. He added: "We have to make sure when we've finished this thing doesn't fall down again. Because this is a busy road, normally, with big lorries coming through." The road, which isn't expected to reopen until at least December, has meant that Godstone businesses have lost passing trade. Local businesses told the BBC they have been 'left in the dark' over the repair plans, with one business owner claiming his income had been slashed to a third of what it was because of the hole. The website reported that the village's Hare & Hounds pub has seen a 40 per cent drop in customers after the sinkhole separated the pub from the M25 nearby. After the crater appeared overnight on 17 February, residents were told to 'get out as quickly as possible'. More than 30 homes were evacuated as the hole grew up to 19 metres in length, and a second one opened up in the days following. Godstone residents Nicola and Damian Styles, 46 and 44, said it was a 'shock' to be woken by police in the middle of the night. Mr Styles said: 'We just sort of grabbed everything, the clothes on our back and our work laptops, and drove out quickly. We didn't know how long we were going to be out for.' Just last week, a section of the pavement reopened, and the sinkhole was downgraded to a 'road collapse'. Shane Fry, who runs DD Services, a garage on the high street, said: 'They said they would keep us up to date, but this hasn't happened. We need to know. It will benefit everyone in the area." 'reduced footfall to virtually zero'.
Daily Mail
34 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
I bought my dream home from the 1800s... then I discovered a horrific twist that will cost thousands
A woman who thought she was buying her dream home from the 1800s had a horrific realization after she moved in. Tayce Omoniyi, 35, from Canada, has always been 'drawn' to the Victorian era, so when she discovered a two bed-room apartment for sale in Scotland in her price range, she jumped on the chance to buy it. She fell in love with the stunning wood floors, high ceilings, and intricate Victorian detailing - all for only £80,000 ($107,000). 'I love antiques and old things,' explained Tayce during an exclusive chat with the Daily Mail. 'I was also keen on the low mortgage - hoping I could spend my money on trips, rather than high rental costs.' While she did notice on the home report that the 'damp meter' was a 'level two,' they were told by 'friends in the UK that it was normal in any old building' - something she now wishes she took more seriously. She officially bought the apartment on August 1, but immediately after moving in, she discovered a strong 'moldy smell' throughout the entire abode. 'This set off my anxiety. I wondered if this had been one giant mistake. I felt like I was hit by a wave of grief,' she recalled. She has always been 'drawn' to the Victorian era, so when she discovered a two bed-room apartment for sale in Scotland in her price range, she jumped on the chance to buy it 'I had made this purchase without thinking things through, and it made me question myself. At 35, I figured I shouldn't still be making such hasty decisions.' Tayce soon learned that what initially drew her to the home - it being old and vintage - was its biggest problem. And that while it seemed appealing because of its low price, it was low for a reason. On top of being a breeding ground for mold, the house needs a lot of work, and the renovations will likely cost her thousands of dollars. She has now started by pulling the wallpaper off and next, she plans to redo the floors. She also has to 'fix her daughters room' and completely 'remodel the bathroom.' 'I'm not sure how much it's doing to cost, but I imagine it's a lot. Thousands,' she shared. 'I wish we had just bought something newer, even if it wasn't my taste. I wished we hadn't bought anything at all.' Tayce opened up about her regret on TikTok and the video went viral, raking in more than 114,000 views. In it, she boldly confessed, 'I made a huge mistake. I absolutely hate myself and I wish I could move right now.' 'We're living in chaos right now while we try to renovate it. I have no experience [with this],' she continued as she showed off the renovations. 'You don't need to tell me how dumb I am, because I already know. I feel terrible, I feel worthless, I'm at a major all time low. 'But I will never stop trying to be optimistic so here goes trying to fix this.' The video resonated with thousands of people, many of whom also confessed to feeling overwhelmed after buying a new home in the comment section. While speaking to the Daily Mail Tayce said she hopes people use her story as a lesson to not rush into any big purchases While speaking to the Daily Mail Tayce said she hopes people use her story as a lesson to not rush into any big purchases. But more importantly, she stressed the importance of staying positive. 'I've learned to truly take my time before I make a big, life changing decision, and that sometimes practicality and location matters a lot more than chasing some aesthetic,' she said. 'I hope people learn to really take their time before rushing into a home purchase, but I also hope they see that even though a home may not be perfect, it can always be improved.
BBC News
34 minutes ago
- BBC News
Brothers rescue 'terrified' swimmer from dolphin at Lyme Bay
Two kayakers have described rescuing two women in separate incidents after a dolphin began pushing them underwater. Brothers Rhys and Gareth Paterson said they saw the animal jump on one swimmer's back and force her head below the surface at Lyme Bay in Dorset on Thursday. "She was kind of gasping for air," said Rhys. "She was terrified." They later saw the dolphin do "exactly the same thing" to another from the Marine Management Organisation have warned that dolphins are "unpredictable wild animals" and advised swimmers to stay at least 100m (328ft) away. The bottlenose dolphin, known as Reggie to locals, was first spotted in the bay earlier this year and has become a regular visitor - to the excitement of residents and tourists. While many have welcomed his visits, marine experts say human interaction can cause dolphins to lose their natural wariness and become appears to be what the brothers witnessed when they spotted the first swimmer in distress about 200m (656ft) from shore. Rhys said they saw the dolphin jump on the woman's back. "We thought he was doing what he normally does – just a bit of fun," he said. But after hearing her scream, they paddled over and saw the dolphin repeatedly push her head bringing her back to shore, they returned to the water and saw the same dolphin targeting another woman, who was holding onto a yellow buoy while "looking panicked". Rhys said swimmers should try to get back to shore as quickly as possible if they spot the animal."I think it's only a matter of time before the dolphin gets hurt or someone gets seriously hurt," he said. "It is a wild animal, as exciting as it is."I think it's up to everyone now to start respecting its space a little bit more."If we weren't there that day I think something bad could have potentially happened."
