Sinkhole threatens Park Bridge Remembrance Sunday service

Community group calls for urgent action after road collapse near village cenotaph, as residents face prospect of paying for repairs themselves.

A sinkhole that has opened up on Dean Terrace in Park Bridge, opposite the village’s cenotaph, has raised serious concerns about public safety ahead of the community’s annual Remembrance Sunday service.

The road, which is unadopted by Tameside Council, has been in urgent need of repair for some time, with large potholes and deteriorating surfaces already making one end impassable.

Now, a substantial sinkhole outside the popular Park Bridge Institute has created an even greater hazard for residents, visitors, pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders and vehicles, including the Council’s own refuse collection teams.

Despite residents previously raising concerns about the condition of Dean Terrace with Tameside Council, they have been advised that, because the road is unadopted, they would be responsible for funding repairs themselves.

With Remembrance Sunday approaching on 8 November, Park Bridge Residents’ Action Group & Fund is calling for urgent action to assess the cause of the collapse, make the area safe and establish who is responsible for carrying out the necessary repairs.

A spokesperson for Park Bridge Residents’ Action Group & Fund said: “It’s not enough that residents and visitors to Park Bridge already have to contend with speeding cut-through traffic, potholes and crumbling road surfaces. We now have a dangerous sinkhole outside the Park Bridge Institute, posing a serious risk to anyone using the road.  

“In less than a month’s time, our community will gather at the cenotaph for its annual Remembrance Sunday service. The prospect of people attending, including older residents, families and those wishing to pay their respects, having to navigate a dangerous road collapse just metres away is deeply concerning.

“Tameside Council has been notified on several occasions about the deteriorating condition of Dean Terrace, but residents have been told they must pay for repairs themselves because the road is unadopted.

“We find that incredibly frustrating. This isn’t a private driveway serving a single household. It’s a road used by residents, visitors, local businesses and community groups, as well as the Council’s own refuse collection vehicles.

“To expect local residents to shoulder the financial burden of repairs while the wider community and public services continue to use the road raises serious questions about how this situation is being managed.

“Residents shouldn’t have to wait for somebody to get hurt before action is taken. We’re asking for an urgent safety assessment, clear communication about who is responsible and a practical plan to address the danger.

“With Remembrance Sunday just weeks away, time is running out to ensure people can gather safely to remember those who gave their lives.”

Tameside Council have been contacted, with the issue has been reported to the highways team, local councilors, and the local MP. 

Residents have also contacted United Utilities to investigate whether the sinkhole could be linked to a collapsed underground drain or other drainage infrastructure.

The cause of the collapse has not yet been established and the group is urging the relevant authorities and infrastructure providers to work together to identify the problem and take appropriate action.