After eight years, the sinkhole on the Ebley canal path is finally set to be repaired by Persimmon Homes.
Metal railings block it off to keep people safe. Someone tried filling it with sand, yet it came back. Many people visit that towpath. Walkers, runners, and cyclists use it often.
Hundreds go there each week. The sinkhole ruins a pretty spot. Colette O’Neil lives very close to the hole. It makes the area look bad, she says.
She thinks the quay might be falling apart. More holes could show up someday. Houses could get damaged, and people hurt. Stroud Times asked Persimmon Homes about it.
They said they’re sorry for the trouble. It’s unclear who owns the land, but they will fix the sinkhole because they own some land nearby. They are getting contractors to do the work. They want to finish it fast.
A sinkhole is a hole in the ground. It happens when the surface collapses. Sinkholes can be natural or caused by people. Leaky water mains can cause them in cities. Broken sewer pipes also can cause sinkholes.