‘Emergency road closure’ at Hockerill junction due to ‘void’ caused by water leak – Hertfordshire County Council

Highways chiefs have revealed a “void” caused by a water leak was discovered in the road at Bishop’s Stortford’s Hockerill junction, causing it to be closed.

An “emergency road closure” sign was erected along the westbound downhill stretch of Hockerill Street on Saturday (July 27), but no warning signs for motorists were placed in any of the roads approaching the junction.

This meant some drivers tried to turn right from Stansted Road into Hockerill Street without realising it was closed. One woman reported seeing the driver of an articulated lorry travelling from Dunmow Road ignore the road closure sign and drive past the fenced-off site, on the wrong side of the road, followed by other vehicles.

When the Indie contacted highways authority Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) a spokesperson said they were unaware of any planned or unplanned emergency work and they sent an inspector to the site.

On Monday afternoon an HCC spokesperson said Hockerill Street was closed “due to the discovery of a void underneath the carriageway caused by a water leak”.

They added: “Our maintenance contractor has temporarily made the area safe, and the site has been handed over to Affinity Water to carry out the necessary repairs.

“Affinity Water are expected on site this afternoon to begin repair work. Until they have had an opportunity to examine the site and submit a permit, we cannot confirm how long repairs will take. However, we will be working with Affinity Water to minimise disruption as much as possible.”

A business owner near the site said she had been complaining to the authorities about a leak near her business and had spotted that a hole that had appeared in the road had got bigger.

“Countless” workers in hi-vis jackets had descended on the site on Saturday, taking photos of the void, but no work has been carried out since.

The HCC spokesperson said any contractor carrying out unplanned emergency works has to notify them within two hours.