Concerns surround an investigation into possible subsidence along a city road plagued by the issue.

Part of Earlham Road was closed this week, near The Black Horse pub and the junction for Heigham Road, to allow Norfolk County Council to investigate.

The roadworks started last Friday and are due to finish on Saturday, with the road reopened to traffic today.

However, there are concerns about issues that could impact businesses in the area.

Norwich Evening News: The work is being carried out next to The Black Horse pub in Earlham RoadThe work is being carried out next to The Black Horse pub in Earlham Road (Image: Sonya Duncan, Newsquest)

Rose Hanison, owner of The Black Horse, said: "We thought it would be a simple fix but there's more complications than we first thought.

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"Issues seem to keep cropping up, so the council need to reassess how to move forward but in the meantime, it's business as usual."

Earlham Road has been well-known for many years for having issues relating to subsidence, with one memorable case where a bus fell into a sinkhole in 1988, when a medieval chalk mine collapsed close to the catholic cathedral.

Norwich Evening News: Earlham Road is well-known for its issues with subsidenceEarlham Road is well-known for its issues with subsidence (Image: Newsquest)

A county council spokeswoman said: "Our teams are on site in Earlham Road due to some localised subsidence issues, the causes of which are complex.

"We're working with our partners to resolve the issue, but in the meantime, barriers are in place to manage pedestrians and traffic and ensure the safety of all road users."

Lucy Galvin, Green city councillor for Nelson ward, said that while the issue is "concerning, given the history of the road" things should be under control.

Norwich Evening News: Rosie Hanison, owner of The Black Horse pub, said that there's been complications in the council's investigationRosie Hanison, owner of The Black Horse pub, said that there's been complications in the council's investigation (Image: Newsquest)

She said: "Barriers are in place and traffic is restricted while Norfolk County Council investigates what is causing what looks like subsidence. 

"A range of issues could be in play here, and the council and partners are working together on it and will issue regular updates."

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The diversion route, which follows Unthank Road, Convent Road, Grapes Hill, Dereham Road and Heigham Road is also causing its own issues for businesses nearby.

Norwich Evening News: The roadworks are currently scheduled to last between February 2 - 10The roadworks are currently scheduled to last between February 2 - 10 (Image: Sonya Duncan, Newsquest)

Olsi Ana, manager of The Bay Hair, opposite The Black Horse, says the current disruption along the road "is a nightmare".

She continued: "It's been chaos with all the roadworks here I wasn't able to get in through the front door of the shop.

"The council are trying to investigate these subsidence issues but it's been a nightmare with all the roads closed."

Norwich Evening News: Lucy Galvin, Green Party councillor for Nelson WardLucy Galvin, Green Party councillor for Nelson Ward (Image: Newsquest)

Norwich Evening News: Rosie Hanison, owner of The Black Horse, said the pub is still open as normalRosie Hanison, owner of The Black Horse, said the pub is still open as normal (Image: Sonya Duncan, Newsquest)

Earlham Road's subsidence hell

March 1988 - Earlham Road bus incident

The number 26 bus was making its usual journey along Earlham Road when the collapse of a medieval chalk mine caused a hole to form underneath its wheels.

The rear end of the bus was swallowed in the sinkhole, but fortunately, neither the driver or its passengers were harmed.

Norwich Evening News: A bus fell down a sinkhole in Earlham Road on March 3, 1988A bus fell down a sinkhole in Earlham Road on March 3, 1988 (Image: Archant)

Norwich Evening News: The Earlham Road sinkhole that swallowed a bus was big news in 1988The Earlham Road sinkhole that swallowed a bus was big news in 1988 (Image: Newsquest)

April 2016 - Plantation Garden and MJB Hotel

Cracks were spotted in the corner of a wall of the Plantation Hotel, which extended across the car park and into a medieval wall of the Plantation Gardens next door.

This led to the hotel and gardens being evacuated the same day.

Norwich Evening News: The Plantation Garden Hotel had to close due to subsidence issues in 2016The Plantation Garden Hotel had to close due to subsidence issues in 2016 (Image: Archant)

November 2019 - Outside The Black Horse pub

Construction workers found a 1m deep, by 1m wide, sinkhole outside The Black Horse.

The sinkhole extended to 2.5m underneath the ground near the Heigham Road junction where work was taking place as part of the Transport for Norwich scheme.

Norwich Evening News: Construction workers found a sinkhole in Earlham Road on November 2019Construction workers found a sinkhole in Earlham Road on November 2019 (Image: Archant)