Somerset sinkhole to finally be repaired – after nearly five years
Long-running Station Road sinkhole to be fixed next month as roadworks begin, with further disruption planned
A sinkhole which has been blighting one of Castle Cary’s main roads will finally be repaired in the coming weeks.
Issues began emerging in July 2021 on the B3152 Station Road, close to where Persimmon Homes Severn Valley recently began construction on a new development of 162 homes, commercial space and a new primary school.
Somerset Council put temporary traffic lights in place on the affected stretch (between the junctions with Almsford Close and Victoria Gardens) in July 2024, providing short-term protection for motorists and pedestrians until a more permanent solution was put in place.
In late-July 2025, local residents put up balloons and a poster proclaiming “Happy 4th Birthday Sinkhole!” on a barrier around the affected area, the BBC reported.
Councilor Henry Hobhouse (who represents Castle Cary and the neighbouring villages) revealed in November 2025 that the council had now spent more on keeping these traffic lights in place than it would have cost to fix the sinkhole.
The council has now confirmed that work to repair the sinkhole will finally begin on Monday (February 9), with residents having to endure a further two months of disruption to allow other nearby roadworks to be carried out at the same time.
In a statement to Castle Cary Town Council (published on the said council’s official website), Somerset Council’s highways department said: “Investigatory and preparation works will start on Monday, February 9 under a road closure.
“This will be in place between 8am and 5pm on weekdays only, with the road
reopened outside of these times.
“Unfortunately, due to the excavations and equipment in place we are not able to allow bus access during these times.
“Prior to the closure being in place there will be advanced signage on site to inform the travelling public. While the road is closed a signed diversion will be in place.
“This work will not conflict with the closure of the B3153, as Station Road will be reopened before these take place.”
Once this initial phase has been completed, the temporary traffic lights will be reinstated until the full-blown repairs can be undertaken in March.
Over three weekends in February, the B3153 Clanville will be closed east of its junction with Blackworthy Lane for resurfacing.
During the Station Road repairs, pedestrian access will be maintained at all times – with Mr Hobhouse stating on Thursday (February 5) that he had received assurances that local schoolchildren “can be escorted past the roadworks” as and when required.
Full details of these and other roadworks in Castle Cary can be found by visiting www.somerset.gov.uk/roads-travel-and-parking/roadworks-and-travel.
Since his comments in November 2025, Mr Hobhouse has pushed the council to create an emergency fund for highway repairs, to prevent costs of particular repairs (and the associated traffic management, such as lights) from spiralling.
Speaking at the time, he said: “I worked on the railways for 20 years, and if there was a situation where you had something very dangerous like a landslide, they had an emergency fund – and with that, the dangerous point was dealt with and the situation was sorted out afterwards.
“I would like to ask why we, as a highway authority, don’t have some sort of emergency fund to deal with problems immediately when they occur, as opposed to why they continue for what is basically four years.”