Emergency works set for Market Deeping high street after historic borehole discovery

Lincolnshire County Council said flooding at the car park off High Street lead to the discovery and scheduled repairs – with a section of the road to be closed to traffic.

Shaun Butcher, Head of Highways Asset and Local Management Services explained: “We are carrying out emergency works in the parking area off High Street following the discovery of a significant failure in a historic borehole.

“The borehole originally formed part of a town‑centre water feature before being decommissioned and covered over in the 1950s. The failure has allowed large quantities of groundwater from deep aquifers to rise to the surface, resulting in water escaping across the Market Place and surrounding roads.

“Over recent weeks, LCC has worked in partnership with Anglian Water and the Environment Agency to investigate the issue. These investigations have confirmed the borehole failure and several blockages in nearby drainage systems.

“As part of our emergency response, we have a specialist contractor undertaking the borehole repair, and additional crews will complete minor drainage works in the area while traffic management is in place.”

Location: The works will take place at the High Street and Market Place from Friday 13 March, with a planned end date of Friday 27 March 2026, from 8am-5pm each day.

An LCC spokesperson said: “At present, no weekend working is planned but if we encounter unforeseen issues or delays, work hours or weekend activity may need to be adjusted to ensure the scheme is completed safely and on time.

“Due to the nature of the work needed, and to keep everyone working and travelling safe, we must close the majority of parking bays on High Street and a section of the High Street itself. A signed diversion route will remain in place for the duration of the works.”

Shaun Butcher added: “To secure the borehole, the specialist team will drill an oversize bore over the existing one to a suitable depth. They will then seal the bottom of the bore, fill the remainder with grout (a liquid concrete), and finally seal the top.

“This is a complex and unusual operation, especially in a town‑centre setting, so we are taking appropriate precautions. The drilling and sealing work is expected to generate some disruption because of the nature of what is needed.

“To mitigate as much as we can for this, acoustic barriers will be installed to help limit sound, and an additional team will be on site to support the contractor, maintain the area and operate pumps when required.

“I would like to thank everyone affected for their patience and understanding whilst we deliver these emergency drainage works.”