Sinkhole closes Shoppenhangers Road in Maidenhead

A Maidenhead road has been closed following the appearance of a large sinkhole.

The hole appeared in Shoppenhangers Road today (Tuesday), with water running down the hill towards the train station.

A spokeswoman for Thames Water has told the Advertiser that 'an expert is on the way to investigate this', and will provide an update shortly.

The Royal Borough has been contacted for more information.

Update 12:35pm

A Thames Water spokeswoman said: “We’ve sent a large team to Shoppenhangers Road to investigate what has caused the hole in the road to appear.

"Our initial inspection suggests the sewer under the road has collapsed but we’ll need to carry out further investigations once we’re sure the road is stable enough for our machinery to get close.

"Until this has happened we won’t know how long the road will need to remain closed for, but we’ll work as fast as we can to get things back to normal.

“We’ve tankers on the way to pump away the water from the road and have a team of traffic management specialists planning a diversion to help keep traffic flowing as best we can. We’re sorry for the inevitable disruption the road closure will cause.”

Update 12:53pm

Desborough College is closing at 1pm due to the emergency works.

pic.twitter.com/l7tR5vU6OQ

— Desborough College (@DesboroughSch) January 7, 2020

Update 2:33pm

Desborough College has announced on Facebook that it will also be closed tomorrow (Wednesday) due to the ongoing pipe works.

But students with a creative media exam tomorrow afternoon have been asked to report to reception at 12.30pm.

"At the moment the water board cannot guarantee what time they will have repaired the damage," headteacher Maggie Callaghan said in a statement.

"I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for your support today and to let you know how fantastic the boys were given the circumstances."

Update 4.37pm

Thames Water has said it is likely that Shoppenhangers Road will be closed 'for a number of days'.

It's priority now is to set up a temporary pipe to carry the sewage that would normally flow through the damaged one, it added.

The setting up of this temporary pipe will begin today and 'probably continue into tonight'.

A Thames Water spokeswoman added: "Access to [Desborough College] has been maintained as the road closure starts just after the entrance.

"We are in touch with the bus operators that use Shoppenhangers Road to discuss diversions."

Both the clean water and sewer pipes are damaged but it is not clear how this was caused.

Update 5.34pm

The Royal Borough has tweeted to say that Shoppenhangers Road will be closed for 'around a month' between Ludlow Road and the entrance to Desborough College.

Road diversions are in place, the council added.

There is a full closure on Shoppenhangers Road between Ludlow Road and the entrance to Desborough College which is estimated to last around a month. Road diversions are in place. For all questions and updates, visit @thameswater's website at: https://t.co/KDL4p2QmjA pic.twitter.com/ovMKHuf4JC

— RBWM (@RBWM) January 7, 2020

Update 9:01am, January 8

A statement has come through from South East Water, which is repairing a three-inch water main in Shoppenhangers Road.

Philip Cereda, regional works delivery manager said: “We are repairing a three-inch water main in Shoppenhangers Road, Maidenhead, which was reported to us yesterday [January 7].

“Eight properties were affected but our contractor has now installed an overland pipe to restore water supplies.

“Shoppenhangers Road is closed to the public for safety reasons after a void appeared. A clearly-signed diversion route is in place and we are sorry for any disruption caused.

“We will begin repairing the damaged pipe as soon as it is safe to do so and you can visit our interactive map at inyourarea.digdat.co.uk/southeastwater for more information.”

Update 2.32pm, January 8

Desborough College has taken the decision to close the school tomorrow (Thursday) due to the health and safety of the water.

Update 2:36pm, January 8

No way through on Shoppenhangers Road in Maidenhead for what looks like some time. Sinkhole is looking pretty large. Thames Water and South East Water teams still here working away @MaidenheadAds pic.twitter.com/tFHg4AJse7

— Kieran Bell (@KieranB_BM) January 8, 2020