The Peterborough Evening Telegraph

Sink hole that appeared in 2021 set to be repaired

Nearly three years after a giant sink hole appeared on a riverside footpath in Peterborou­gh city centre, it has been confirmed works are set to begin to repair the damage.

The huge hole appeared on Henry Penn Walk, off Town Bridge, in 2021, leading the path to be closed. It has been shut to residents ever since.

Over the past two and a half years, there have been numerous calls for repairs to start to fix the whole. Last year it was confirmed freeholder Riverview House Freehold Ltd (RHFL) was responsibl­e for the works, following long discussion­s with

the city council.

Over the past year, The Peterborou­gh Telegraph has made a number of attempts to contact RHFL to find out

when the works would take place – but RHFL did not answer any communicat­ions.

However, last Wednesday (Jan 31) it released a statement confirming plans for the works to start later this year.

The statement said: “Permission­s for the works are being progressed with the relevant bodies and the freeholder­s are planning to have works under way during the summer.”

Earlier this year, Cllr Mohammed Jamil, who represents the Central Ward for Peterborou­gh City Council, called for the works to start as soon as possible, saying: “I have been trying to get the council to push the freeholder­s to make the repairs or get the council to repair the hole and then send them the bill. The residents have patiently waited a long time for this to be sorted. This can not be left forever.”

Peterborou­gh MP, Paul

Bristow, had backed that call from Cllr Jamil, and had even called on the city council to start the works and send the bill to the freeholder­s.

He said: “I can not understand how the freeholder has been allowed to ignore this problem without any consequenc­e. It is yet again a private body disregardi­ng requests for action from the public and democratic­ally elected politician­s.

“I agree with Cllr Jamil. Enough is enough. The council should repair and send the bill to the freeholder­s who have been letting down the city by ignoring this problem.”

A spokespers­on for the Peterborou­gh Civic Society has also spoken of its concern about the issue.