Eston sinkhole to be repaired later this year by council

The sinkhole emerged on Eston Rec towards the end of 2024 and was later cordoned off by Redcar and Cleveland Council to ensure the safety of the public.

Last year the local authority contracted specialist consultants costing £30,000 to advise on how the risk of any further collapse could be prevented and to assess long-term measures which could be put in place.

The council previously said it hoped to restore the area to how it was before, although it has proved far from a straightforward task.

A Facebook post from cabinet member for neighbourhoods, Neil Bendelow and his ward colleague Sue Jeffrey said the sinkhole had been identified as being above an old gypsum mine shaft dating back to the 1860s.

They said: “As the ground around it isn’t stable enough to cap it, a repair plan has been worked up with geotechnical engineers to fill and stabilise the shaft.

“The work is expected to start after the school summer holidays and should take around ten weeks, so the area could reopen by the end of October.”

No explanation was given for the timescale and the council has been contacted for comment.

Sinkholes are a naturally occurring or human activity-related depression in the ground caused by the dissolution of underlying rock or removal of supporting material. 

Eston Rec is in line for much needed public realm improvements, including new lighting, CCTV, footpaths, play equipment and landscaping with designs and planning permission having previously been agreed.

Commenting on the councillors’ post, former Teesville ward councillor Vince Smith said: “Will be great to have the [sinkhole] problem solved as the other work to improve the Rec begins as well.”