'They filled that one in before, but it sank again': Business owner speaks out over Kidderminster sinkhole

There have been concerns raised from a local business owner about the impact of a sinkhole on a road and the possibility of more in the future.

The sinkhole on Sutton Road in Kidderminster has caused the road to be closed to traffic since it was first discovered on Wednesday, July 15, with diversions in place around the area.

It has also caused additional issues for business owners on the road, with Mike Wheeler from Hollywood Blinds Ltd saying that a number of issues have come up due to the road closure.

He said: “I need this road to be open for a number of reasons, which start with the wagons coming down and dropping off stuff for us as it’s becoming a headache for them to turn.

“The road is narrow, so you wonder how you’re going to turn a wagon around here, plus there’s less footfall and less people walking by and noticing us.

“That’s also the same with the traffic and cars going past.”

The area around where the sinkhole was located is surrounded by temporary fencing, with “void” and “do not move or drive on” drawn on the road surface, while a number of traffic cones can be seen covering the area where the hole is located.

Mr Wheeler said it wasn’t the first time Sutton Road had had a sinkhole, with one appearing at the other side of his business, and said it felt like a temporary solution had been used in the past.

He said: “About two years ago, there was one on the other side of the road and they had to stop the cars going past.

“That’s in the back of your mind about what’s under the ground there and are there any other holes that might suddenly appear.

“They filled that one in before, but it sank again after about two weeks, so I’d just like to know what’s causing this.”

A spokeswoman for Worcestershire County Council said: “The road has been closed to traffic whilst we work with utility companies to ensure this repair work is completed as quickly as possible."