Sinkhole opens outside Wednesbury home
A sinkhole opened up on a Black Country street.
The 6ft-wide chasm appeared outside a house in Churchfields Road, Wednesbury, on Sunday.
A car began to ‘sink down’ the hole in the driveway.
West Midlands Police was called at 5pm, and two officers arrived at the scene at 5.30pm, and told members of the public to move their vehicles from the surrounding area.
Barriers have now been put up outside the property.
A nearby resident, who asked not be named, said: “The structural engineers told me I’m not supposed to be in this house.”
Another described the hole as ‘a coal mine issue’ on social media site Twitter.
A council spokesman said: “The building surveyors have been out.
“The gas board went out to disconnect the gas supply.
“It is private property so they have got to get in touch with their insurance companies.”
A police spokesman said the force was called just after 5pm on Sunday, and that the council and utility companies are now dealing with the issue.
Councillor Elaine Costigan, who represents the Wednesbury North area, said it was ‘concerning’ for residents.
She said: “From what I hear I think the car on the drive started to sink down it, hence swift action was taken.
“It is concerning but I am pleased that the right people came out and dealt with it as quickly as possible.
“When things like this happen we need to get it resolved as quick as possible.
“Wednesbury was a very industrial area, so it seems like a thing that could happen at any time.”
It comes as a similar sinkhole opened up in the town in February.
Half of Franchise Street was closed off for almost two weeks, with buses diverted and footpath closures.
