Engineers probe ‘void’ under busy Paignton road

Engineers from South West Water are trying to work out the extent of a ‘void’ under a road in Paignton which has led to the road being closed and water supplies being disrupted.

The ‘emergency’ incident happened just before the Easter weekend, and dozens of homes and businesses were temporarily without water.

Sands Road, a busy route for people going to and from Paignton harbour and seafront, was closed throughout the holiday period and remained closed on Tuesday (22 April), with traffic diverted around nearby streets.

Above: Sands Road in Paignton has been closed. Image: Guy Henderson

A sign on fencing around the site read: “Danger: Deep Excavation Keep Out”. Two fence panels had been placed across one of the deep holes in the road.

A South West Water (SWW) statement said: “We’d like to apologise to our customers in the TQ4 6 area in Paignton who may have experienced a disruption to their supply.

“Our engineers whilst carrying out the repair have identified a void under the road surface. We are currently working with the local council and other agencies to determine the cause and extent of the void.”

SWW says a specialist engineer has been deployed to assess the situation.

Above: Sands Road in Paignton has been closed. Image: Guy Henderson

The statement continued: “Whilst this investigation takes place and until the extent of the void has been identified, Sands Road has been closed. We appreciate your continued patience and understanding, and we apologise for any inconvenience.”

Torbay Council, meanwhile, set up a network of local diversions.

In a statement the council said: “The road closure in Sands Road is currently contained as we, along with South West Water, determine the cause and extent of the void. A specialist engineer has been deployed to assess the situation.”