Businesses struggling as sinkhole swallows profits
BBCA huge sinkhole that saw residents evacuated from their homes has left local businesses facing a financial black hole.
It is more than a month since the road in Godstone village's High Street collapsed on 17 February.
But as the leader of Tandridge District Council declared the village "open for business", a shopkeeper and a pub landlord told the BBC they were "struggling".
"It's like Covid all over again," said Mark Cullinan, who has been landlord of the Hare and Hounds pub for 20 years.
Mr Cullinan, 58, said that since the sinkhole appeared, trade has dropped off by about 30%.
"My pub sits at a major crossroads drawing in customers from all directions but since they closed the road off they might as well have built a tunnel," he said.
"I cannot understand why they can't reopen the road with a width and weight restriction."
Jacqui Hutchings from the Godstone Emporium said she has just completed the business's books for that period and takings are 25% down on last year.
"It's tough," she said. "These are tough times, we are struggling."
On Thursday, Tandridge District Council leader Catherine Sayer said four out of about 30 evacuated households still do not know when they will be given permission to return.
She told BBC Radio Surrey: "Surrey County Council and our building surveyors have given the all clear.
"It's beginning to pick up a bit and the good news is Godstone is very much open for business."
No cause has yet been identified for the sinkhole, which grew to about 65ft (20m).
Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook and on X. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.