Huge sinkhole appears on Saddleworth street

A large sinkhole has appeared on a street in Saddleworth, leaving residents ‘unnerved’ and ‘worried’.

An approximately three-metre-wide sinkhole filled with running water has appeared on Rumbles Lane, Delph.

Neighbours jumped into action to close the road to vehicles until emergency maintenance workers arrived earlier this week. The road remains closed as an investigation takes place. 

Local resident Hannah Marguerite Fisher posted the news in a community group on Facebook: “The sink in the ground has gotten bigger and the walls at the bottom are starting to crack – we are worried about them collapsing soon. It’s getting a bit unnerving!” 

The exact cause of the sinkhole is yet to be determined, though one member of the on-site maintenance team suggested that it was related to a retaining wall built at one end of the lane, redirecting water under the road where it is eroding the sandstone earth beneath. 

Rumbles Lane residents believe the sinkhole is a part of an ongoing subsidence issue in the area, which has already laid waste to front gardens, stairs and walls outside their homes. 

Mike Ornsby, 72, who has lived on the street for more than 40 years with his wife Patricia, said: “We knew something was wrong. We’ve been saying for eight years that something’s not right and here’s the evidence.” 

For the past few years, previous and current inhabitants have reported worsening damage to their properties, with some fearing it could seriously affect their homes. 

“It’s gradually gotten worse and worse,” said Patricia Ornsby, 70. “It’s come right up to the top of the steps now. In another few years – who knows. We’re concerned about how it will affect the house.” 

One ex-resident, Barry Smith, 87, said he had moved away from the area in 2018 after noticing cracks in his wall years earlier, only for the state of his home to rapidly deteriorate. 

He said: “The patio in front of the house started dropping and I was concerned that it would affect the house. I was looking almost every day to see if there were any cracks in the walls. It was a period of worry, frustration and anger.”

More recent complaints in 2022 resulted in attempts by Cllr Luke Lancaster to raise the issue with the council. Communication quickly "fizzled out", according to the Saddleworth North councillor. 

He now calls for “urgent action and a thorough investigation” by the OMBC Highways department. 

Oldham Council said: “Over the weekend, we have been made aware of safety issues on Rumbles Lane.

“Highways officers visited the site and cordoned off the affected area and the closure will remain in place while the matter is investigated.

“Diversions are in place and we will look to address the issues as soon as possible. We will provide further updates in due course.”