Neighbours living next to a newly formed sink hole have described the situation as "a nightmare", as they say drivers are regularly moving cones and bollards to avoid the diversion. The sink hole appeared on Friday, March 17 on Violet Hill, Mansfield and was reportedly formed by a drain collapsing.
Due to the size of the hole part of the road and footpath on Violet Hill has been closed. However, residents in the area have explained the closure is being ignored by many drivers, and they have been left having to constantly put signs and cones back in place.
Retired, Keith Davidson, 70, lives next to where the sinkhole has appeared. He said: "It's right outside our house.
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"Yesterday morning I noticed there was a lot of traffic coming down through here when it was supposed to be closed. Someone had moved the cones and road closed signs to the pavement and turned it around so that people coming down the road could not read it.
"Others will shift the cones and leave them and then everyone else follows like sheep. I have had to put them back there and I've had to put the bollards back every single day, there's been all sorts of stuff like that happening and it's only been here since Friday."
Keith continued: "It's been a nightmare. Last night four cars deliberately went across the junction and down the wrong side of the road into oncoming traffic
"Some people are actually confused and some people are just mischievous. They just do not seem to respect the signage, I'm quite shocked at the behaviour of some people."
He explained that Violet Hill was generally a "very busy road" but the diversion in place is "not huge" and feels that people just do not want to take the extra time to drive safely.
Speaking of the bollards, Keith added: "They have put some sandbags on as they fall down and to make it more difficult to move. Other residents have been out putting the signs back too.
"It's been horrendous because people will not respect the signage. It's becoming a bit of a tourist site with everyone walking past."
Keith has lived on the road for more than 40 years, and said that the stretch of road with the sink hole "has been poor for two or three years." When asked when it would be fixed, he replied: "I don't know how long it will be, it could be weeks."
Auditor Ruth Lee, 60, has also noticed "lots" of people ignoring the closed road signs. She said: "They keep moving the cones and everything to come down." Ruth explained that she has had to park her car across the street due to being within the coned off area.
She said: "It's not been too bad, it's no fun for residents." When asked if not being able to turn up the hill was a problem, Ruth explained: "We've always gone down and round the roundabout anyway as it's so busy."
Retired Stewart Wright, 60, lives close to the junction that has been affected by the road closure from the sink hole. When asked if the roads had been busy, he replied: "Yes, but no more than usual as this road tends to get busy at peak times anyway, but I've had no trouble getting out.
"The biggest problem I have is if I want to go right as I have to go straight on now and then make a right later on." He added: "I think it's about just being more aware of it and setting off earlier."
A spokesperson from Nottinghamshire County Council said: "We were made aware of a collapsed drain on Violet Hill, Mansfield on Friday and have put a temporary closure in place for vehicles travelling northbound. Investigation work to establish the cause of the collapse is due to take place this week, with repair works to follow.
"The partial closure will remain in place until repairs are made and we would ask road users to use alternative routes where possible. We have also had reports of drivers moving the barriers and ignoring the closure.
"Whilst we understand the frustrations of the travelling public, the closure is in place to keep people safe, therefore we’d ask road users not to move any of the cones or barriers in the interests of their own, and other people’s safety.”
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