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Bury St Edmunds Risbygate Street potholes ‘growing by the day’ as road springs a leak




An urgent call has been made to fix ‘growing’ potholes and flooding in a town centre street.

The two potholes in front of 11-13 Risbygate Street, Bury St Edmunds, appeared last Monday and have been getting bigger ever since.

The problem was first reported by Calvin and brother Stephen Watson who are building a café in the shopping street, beneath a block of luxury flats they own.

Stephen and Calvin Watson at the potholes in Risbygate Street, Bury St Edmunds. Pictures: Chris Morris
Stephen and Calvin Watson at the potholes in Risbygate Street, Bury St Edmunds. Pictures: Chris Morris

They believe a water main has burst under the road, which is now breaking up - with the potholes reaching two feet wide.

“It’s getting quite dangerous for motorists and pedestrians,” said Calvin Watson, of Watsons CBS.

“The water has been seeping through the road since summer and the road now seems to be collapsing as a result. The potholes have grown from about an inch wide to about two feet wide and two feet long in the space of a week, and getting worse because of the volume of water.

One of the potholes that has appeared
One of the potholes that has appeared

“The water is now coming up through them, non-stop, at a rate of up to 50 litres a minute, and flowing down the road for about 30 metres, until it reaches a drain. It’s like a river.

“As cars go over the potholes, and particularly any heavy vehicles, it’s also kicking up asphalt on the pavement. It’s dangerous for pedestrians and we are also worried it might smash the windows of the shop next door.”

Mr Watson said he first noticed a damp patch appear in the road in August. He said he spoke to Anglian Water workers while they were working at his property about the problem.

He said Anglian Water returned three weeks ago and installed emergency traffic lights for two hours, but then took them down and nothing was done.

“Last Monday, we reported it again as the water was a lot worse and an emergency crew was supposed to come out,” said Calvin.

The water flows constantly for around 30 metres down the road
The water flows constantly for around 30 metres down the road

“The holes just got bigger by the day, and still are.

“Anglian Water came out on Friday and deemed it ‘not dangerous’, however, which we couldn’t believe.

“We have also noticed water pressure dropping and so have some of the tenants in the flats above.”

Cars and lorries are throwing asphalt onto the pavement
Cars and lorries are throwing asphalt onto the pavement

Brodie Nurse, who runs On Point Barbers in the building, said: “A lot of people stop and look to see what is going on there. The water has been flowing badly for more than a week.

“It’s quite dangerous if an elderly person is walking buy with the asphalt being kicked up.

“We are also concerned for our front windows, too.”

An Anglian Water spokesperson said today: “We are sorry for any traffic disruption on Risbygate Street in Bury St Edmunds.

“We have needed to close the road to enable us to repair a leak in the area.

“Our teams on site will be working to complete the job and reopen the road as normal as soon as they possibly can.

“We are grateful to customers and road users for their patience while we carry out this essential work.”