Dunbar sinkhole: Road closed after giant sinkhole opens on street

A street in the seaside town of Dunbar remains closed after a huge sinkhole opened in the ground due to a breach in the sea wall.

Images from the scene show a gaping hole on Lamer Street, next to the beach, exposing rubble and utility mains.

East Lothian Council said work to repair the damage had commenced on Friday but teams were battling “extremely challenging” weather and tidal conditions.

A sinkhole appeared on the same street in 2023 | Laurence Gray

In an update on Tuesday, a spokesperson said “good progress” was being made to backfill the area, with repairs to continue in the coming days.

They said the road remains closed to cars and pedestrians and fencing is in place to secure the area.

The giant sinkhole opened on Friday | Laurence Gray

The sinkhole is the third to appear on the street in five years. The last ones appeared in 2021 and 2023.

The council confirmed the latest sinkhole is further along the road than the one in 2023.

Repair works are ongoing | East Lothian Council

The recurrence has led residents to call for long-term defences to be put in place to prevent further sinkholes opening in the area.

Speaking to the East Lothian Courier, Dunbar and East Linton ward councillor Donna Collins called for “proactive measures” to stop it happening again, and suggested the council could look to the Scottish Government for support.