Leading geologist delivers verdict on chaotic Surrey sinkhole: ‘Worrying stuff!’
A leading geologist has explained why a Surrey town was particularly vulnerable to the massive sinkhole that has caused chaos this week, pointing to the area’s geological makeup and historical land use.
Speaking to GB News, geologist Dougal Jerram highlighted that the Godstone area sits on the Lower Green Sand formation, “one of the most landslip susceptible formations in the UK.”
His comments come after a massive sinkhole first appeared in Godstone High Street late on Monday night, prompting Surrey County Council to declare a major incident.
Around 30 homes have been evacuated as a precaution, with families forced to leave their properties over fears of an explosion caused by exposed cables.
Speaking to GB News he said: “Unfortunately the geology around the whole area is made up of a formation called the Lower Green Sand.
“This is one of the most landslip susceptible formations in the UK. Normally if the rocks are contained that’s fine. But it obviously in this case something has caused some of the more unconsolidated material to be removed.
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“You imagine if you don’t know that’s being removed from beneath you, you’ve got no idea that there’s a hollow or an area which can collapse.
“What’s probably happened is there’s been a small collapse that’s disrupted the pipe. More water has come in, and the minute you’ve got more water in, you’ve got a process by which you can remove sand more rapidly.
“I suspect that’s what’s happened in this case. It’s worrying stuff”
Host Stephen Dixon agreed: “I mean, if you lived in that area, you’d be really concerned. You would be thinking what could happen next and could another one crop up.”
The initial sinkhole grew rapidly, reaching at least 65ft (20m) in length by Tuesday lunchtime.
A second opening then appeared, with one vehicle left precariously positioned on the edge.
Surrey County Council is now conducting borehole testing to assess the ground conditions beneath the surface.
The council has confirmed repairs are expected to take months, with a complete rebuild of the road necessary.
Investigations are ongoing to determine why the water main initially burst, with officials examining whether soil movement may have caused the pipe to deform.
A 100-metre cordon remains in place around the affected area while engineers continue their assessment of the site’s stability and potential risks to nearby structures.