A defiant pensioner who lives just metres from a huge sinkhole that opened up in Surrey has insisted he is “staying put”, despite having no water at the moment.
It comes after a 19m x 3m cavity appeared in the small village of Godstone on Monday night as a result of a burst water pipe.
A second crater appeared the next day in the front garden of an apartment block on the same road, with footage showing a car parked perilously close to the chasm.
Orders were made to evacuate, with dozens leaving their properties to move away from the danger zone.
Homes near the sinkhole were left without water, power and gas services.
Speaking to BBC Radio Surrey, Bren Davies, 87, said he would stay in his home, which is around 60ft from the hole.
Mr Davis said he had lived at the property all his life and that he and his wife didn’t want to leave, telling the outlet, “I’m staying put.”
The octogenarian said he was confident that the building, which his grandfather built, was stable.
“There are more bricks below our house than above,” he said, explaining that while he had had three “helpful” visits from police, he hadn’t been ordered to evacuate the area by anyone.
“If we have a problem, we have a back entrance so we can run out that way,” he told the local radio station.
Six families evacuated from the site have since been allowed to return to their homes, and Tandridge District Council (TDC) leader Catherine Sayer said it was considering whether others could be permitted to do the same.
Affected residents had previously complained the sinkhole had left them “homeless” and that they had “no idea” when they’d be permitted to go back home, as per the BBC.
Ms Sayer previously offered an apology to anyone who felt they weren’t sufficiently supported by the council, adding the local authority had been “doing their best” to ensure residents were kept informed.
A TDC spokesperson said affected residents and businesses wouldn’t have to pay council tax or business rates while the sinkhole prevents them from returning.
