Sheringham sinkhole repairs set to continue into carnival week
Barriers surrounding the Sheringham sinkhole, where engineers are working on repairing a damaged sewage pipe.Picture: KAREN BETHELL - Credit: Archant
Sheringham Town Council is urging local people and holidaymakers to support the popular seaside destination's packed programme of summer events, which will go ahead as planned in spite of the sinkhole which opened up in the high street two months ago.
Sheringham sinkhole: Contractors are working on repairing a damaged sewage pipe, which will be lined with a resin-filled 'sock'.Picture: KAREN BETHELL - Credit: Archant
Repair work is expected to continue into carnival week, which kicks off on August 3 with the traditional car boot sale, but although the parade will take an alternative route on carnival day, August 7, no other events will be affected.
With excavations complete, engineers have, over the past few days, been working on erecting scaffolding over the eight-metre-deep sinkhole, which will allow sewer renovation contractors to insert a felt tube with liquid resin between its layers into a damaged pipe.
Barriers surrounding the Sheringham sinkhole, where engineers are working on repairing a damaged sewage pipe.Picture: KAREN BETHELL - Credit: Archant
The 'sock' will be pressed against the walls of the pipe using water pressure and, once the tube is in place, the pipe will be pumped out before being filled with 360,000 litres of water heated to 85 degrees with a portable boiler.
The heat allows the resin incorporated in the felt tube to form a 'pipe within a pipe' designed to repair damage and guard against future breaks.
The Sheringham sinkhole, which has been excavated to a depth of eight metres to allow engineers to access a damaged sewage pipe.Picture: KAREN BETHELL - Credit: Archant
Once repairs are completed and a connection with the manhole has been re-established, engineers will begin backfilling the sinkhole to a depth of around 1.2m before starting repair work on a second pipe which sunk three days after the sinkhole first appeared.
The final stage of the process will see the water mains reinstated, allowing the hole to be filled in and Norfolk County Council highways department to begin resurfacing work on the road and pavements.
Barriers surrounding the Sheringham sinkhole, where engineers are working on repairing a damaged sewage pipe.Picture: KAREN BETHELL - Credit: Archant
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Deputy mayor Liz Withington said the sinkhole area was set to be busy over the coming two weeks.
"Most importantly Sheringham is open for business and all carnival events will take place," she added. "People can still come and enjoy our Blue Flag beach, our independent high street, the Deep History Coast, our gem of a museum and great local attractions."
For more information about Sheringham Carnival events, pick up a programme, available at town centre shops and the carnival caravan, or visit www.sheringhamcarnival.com
Around 500 Harley Davidson motorcycles will ride into town on Saturday, arriving from Fakenham via the coast road at approximately midday. Bikes will be on display in Church Street and High Street until 3pm.
