Anglian Water to repair sinkhole on Mill Lane, Witham

The sinkhole appeared on Mill Lane, Witham, on Sunday morning and has led to “chaos” since.

Anglian Water have since inspected the site and found a collapsed pipe.

An Anglian Water spokesman said: “The team have said they have found a collapsed pipe on our surface water sewer on Mill Lane in Witham.

“We’re currently working with our partners to arrange a repair and get a timescale in place of when work can begin.”

Incident- The vehicle set out cones, and the next morning the four-way traffic light system had appeared. (Image: Witham resident)

On Monday, a four-way traffic light system was installed around the site of the sinkhole which caused severe delays along Mill Lane, Guithavon Valley, and Guithavon Road.

An incident support vehicle was spotted at the scene on Sunday night arranging cones across the mini-roundabouts and across the sinkhole.

A spokesperson for Essex Highways said: “We sent out a crew yesterday evening (Sunday 21 July) to make the area safe. The only way we could do this without closing the road was to set up temporary four-way traffic lights.”

“We will know more once Anglian Water have finished their investigation.”

Delays- The four-way traffic lights caused severe traffic delays. (Image: Claudia Bradley)

Residents reacted on Facebook saying the site was “chaos,” with the four-way traffic lights a “nightmare.”

Councillor Ross Playle said: “I want to thank the residents who raised it with me. I notified Essex Highways emergency team immediately.

“Sinkholes occur for a number of reasons, but it likely came to affront due to the warmer weather we experienced at the end of last week.

“Essex Highways is now on site, and I am urging that this work be done as quickly as possible to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum.”

Safe- The sinkhole is beneath the two cones stacked together on the mini-roundabout. (Image: Claudia Bradley)

The sinkhole comes as Powers Hall End, one of three river crossings in Witham, has already been closed for UK Power Network maintenance with the diversion route taking more drivers along Mill Lane.

The added traffic flow is worsening congestion in the area.

Mr Playle continued: “We already have Chipping Hill/Powers Hall End bridge out of action due to UK Power Network maintenance and so I would like to thank residents for their patience at this time.”