Kearsley: Hole opens in road, denying access for fortnight

Springfield Road in Kearsley was the site of the hole, which appeared in the road in mid-August at its junction with Manchester Road.

Residents and councillors saw the hole develop on August 17, before the road was cordoned off and closed to traffic to allow for it to be dealt with.

Caused by a burst water main, the road reopened on Tuesday, September 6, over two weeks after it first appeared.

The road when it was closed (Image: Public)

A council spokesperson said: "This was an emergency water main burst and United Utilities requested an emergency road closure.

"It is all repaired now and the road reopened on Tuesday, September 6."

Cllr Debbie Newall, who represents Kearsley, said: "It was reported to us the other week, we've been told it was a United Utilities issue.

"Residents reported that the road was sinking, so I reported it to highways, they went down and said they thought it was United Utilities equipment underneath.

"About a week later they then attended."

The hole on August 17 (Image: Public)

An employee at a local business said: "They have cleared it up now. The week leading up to August 24, it was going down and down, then as of the 24th it became a big hole and they put bollards around it.

"On September 1 they dug a hole and disappeared. Nobody told anybody anything about what was going on."

Where the burst drain was (Image: Newsquest)

A nearby resident said: "It has been horrendous.

"There is traffic up and down here, I would think it is to do with the lorries that come to the trading estate at the end of the road.

"I am just glad it's all fixed. It was the buses, the 22 route, that couldn't come round here. It's frightening when it happens like that."

She said that the hole was roughly two metres wide.