Sinkholes and House Damage Hit Berkshire Road After Burst Water Pipe
A sinkhole has opened up on a Berkshire road, leaving a Caversham house damaged and parts of the property subsiding. Cracks have appeared in the walls, and the driveway has sunk after a water pipe burst on Kidmore Road.
Firefighters Respond to Burst Pipe and Sinkhole
Firefighters were called out on Sunday afternoon to tackle the leak. Eight crew members cordoned off the scene after the road collapsed following the burst pipe. Sandcroft Road remains closed at the junction with Kidmore Road as investigations continue.
Thames Water Scrambles to Solve the Mystery
Justin Coffey, a Thames Water engineer, said: “We are investigating the cause of the hole as a matter of priority.” He added that the company was working to discover why their cast iron pipe burst and what triggered the road and property damage.
The company has informed the council and will bring in structural engineers to inspect the house and surrounding area. “We need to understand exactly what has happened and will work with all the right people to fix this,” Coffey said.
History of Problems on Kidmore Road
Neighbours recall a similar incident on the same road about 20 years ago. Witnesses reported the driveway had sunk by roughly two feet, with multiple cracks visible in the house.
The property owner declined to comment, describing the issue as private. Meanwhile, residents have been urged to move their cars, and the road remains closed to both vehicles and pedestrians for safety reasons.
