Merthyr Tydfil: First residents home after sinkhole nightmare

Some residents who live next to a huge sinkhole that opened up on a residential street have been allowed home.

After 11 days, Merthyr Tydfil council has said it was safe for residents of seven houses on Nant Morlais in Pant to go back home.

Among the first to return were Sheila and Meurig Price who were relieved to be home after 10 days at their daughter’s house.

Merthyr council said it was hopeful all homeowners would be home by the middle of next week.

About 30 homes were evacuated on 1 December with some residents moved to hotels.

Mr Price said it would be “nice to get back home” and get the “heating and television” working again.

He added he was relieved, saying it looked like all residents would be home for Christmas.

“We have been worried but we had a meeting last night with the local authority and they have assured us that it will be safer now than it’s ever been,” he said.

The hole is now at its largest – estimated to be about 40ft (12m) deep and 33ft (10m) – but engineers reiterated the site was now safe.

A 6ft (1.8m) diameter pipe has been placed in the hole to catch the excess water.

Engineers now plan to fill the hole with stone before coming up with a more permanent plan in the new year.

The stone is being moved by a huge conveyor belt that has just arrived on site.

Brent Carter, leader of Merthyr Tydfil council said: “Residents have been fantastic and really supportive. Everyone is desperate to come home for Christmas.”

“The site is as secure as it possibly can be. The culvert is in very good shape. Everything is looking good.”

It emerged on Monday the sinkhole had appeared in front of the family home of former Love Island winner Liam Reardon.

Reardon, who won the 2021 season of the ITV reality show with his partner Millie Court, said it was a “strange, unusual, crazy” experience, adding it was “like we were in a movie”.

He said they had to “pack a case quickly and evacuate the house” and have been unable to return.

“Luckily, none of us are injured… but it’s a big inconvenience,” he said.

The family will now be looking forward to returning home after being left “virtually homeless” in the run-up to Christmas.