A SHOP owner and their neighbours have been left in the dark about when repairs will be made to a large hole which appeared beneath their Oxford building.
At the beginning of October, the ground collapsed into the basement of the Frog Orange Party Shop on Walton street in Jericho.
The hole extends beneath the building – which is owned by St John’s College – putting the shop at risk of collapse.
The hole has caused some of the building to crack and sink.
Nearly a month after the alarm was first raised, the area has been fenced off by construction company Savvy.
However, it is not known how long repairs will take.
Former Frog Orange owner Becky Lee-Allen still runs a party shop in Headington.
Frog Orange closed just a week before the hole appeared. The business had struggled to survive during the pandemic.
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Ms Lee-Allen said: “I’m still not allowed in the property, not without builders' supervision.
"It is still is not structurally sound as far as I know. I have not heard a single thing; nobody has kept in touch.
"Savvy is keeping the building safe, but I do not think they are planning to do anything with it this side of Christmas.”
The businesswoman believes she will not need to continue to pay rent on the building as St John’s College has applied for rent insurance
Melissa Alden and her husband Anthony live next door. They were terrified that their home would be dragged down if the hole opened up.
Mr Alden said: “We have been assured our building is safe, but as for the work and what they are going to do, we haven’t been informed of anything.”
He explained that contractors had been visiting the collapsing shop and have put a barricade around it. But he still has concerns for the structure.
Read again: 'Safety' is St John's College's priority for sink hole under Jericho shop
Previously St John’s College reassured residents it was putting safety first, saying: “With Savills, our estate management company, we are investigating this as a matter of urgency.
"Our absolute priority is the safety of the neighbouring residents and people in the local area.”
St John’s was contacted but has not yet responded with an update.
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