The Godstone Sinkhole with Claire Coutinho MP & Henry Smith ex-MP on the West Sussex potholes

Send us Fan MailThis episode is in two parts, first Neil Munday and Clive Hilton speak to Claire Coutinho MP for East Surrey since 2019 (and Shadow Minister for Equalities since 2024) - It’s been a year since the infamous Godstone Sinkhole suddenly opened up on the High Street, closing the A25, triggering a major incident, and forcing dozens of residents from their homes. In this episode, we hear directly from locals and business owners about the ongoing impact on daily life and trade, and what recovery has really looked like behind the headlines. Claire shares her thoughts on liability, the urgency, communication, relief on business rates and traffic calming once the road re-opens, along with the pressure her office is placing on SES and the local District/County Council to get the High Street open.The second part, we zoom out to look at the growing pothole problem across Surrey and Sussex, asking whether this kind of infrastructure failure is becoming the new normal. Former MP Henry Smith joins us to share insight from his time overseeing Highways at West Sussex County Council and what he believes needs to change to prevent future crises.Many thanks to all our guests for their participation. Sami & team at Blossoms Brunch & Coffee, thank you for your hospitality.Featuring: Claire Coutinho MP, Henry Smith ex-MP, Georgie, Iqbal Khan, Aga Es, Jacq Inwood, James Tidy, Stephen Pritchard and Maureen Jones. Hosts: Neil Munday & Clive Hilton. Please click on 'Send a text' above & join our Facebook group to share your perspective and suggestions for future topics - Thank you for your interest! Clive.