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| St Albans sinkhole: Council costs top £600,000 | St Albans sinkhole: Council costs top £600,000 |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A giant sinkhole in St Albans has cost councils more than £600,000 to deal with, it has emerged. | A giant sinkhole in St Albans has cost councils more than £600,000 to deal with, it has emerged. |
| The 33ft (10m) deep hole appeared in Fontmell Close, a former clay pit site, on 1 October last year. | |
| Ground surveys on the area are nearly complete but five households are still unable to return to their homes and are living in temporary accommodation. | |
| The collapse has cost St Albans City & District Council £200,000 and Hertfordshire County Council £400,000. | The collapse has cost St Albans City & District Council £200,000 and Hertfordshire County Council £400,000. |
| Both authorities are in talks with the government about getting the costs reimbursed. | Both authorities are in talks with the government about getting the costs reimbursed. |
| On the day the hole opened up, the five nearest homes were evacuated and 20 people were taken to a centre set up at the nearby Batchwood Sports Centre. | On the day the hole opened up, the five nearest homes were evacuated and 20 people were taken to a centre set up at the nearby Batchwood Sports Centre. |
| Temporary accommodation for the householders was being paid for by insurers, St Albans council said. | Temporary accommodation for the householders was being paid for by insurers, St Albans council said. |
| For more on this story and all the latest news across Beds, Herts and Bucks visit our Local Live page | |
| The authority also said the results of surveys on Fontmell Close and nearby Bridle Close would be analysed before more work was done. | The authority also said the results of surveys on Fontmell Close and nearby Bridle Close would be analysed before more work was done. |
| "We were presented with a formidable challenge in trying to return the area to normal," said councillor Beric Read. | "We were presented with a formidable challenge in trying to return the area to normal," said councillor Beric Read. |
| "It has been a fantastic effort. It will continue until all utilities have been reconnected and the road fully repaired and the families are back in their homes." | "It has been a fantastic effort. It will continue until all utilities have been reconnected and the road fully repaired and the families are back in their homes." |