RESIDENTS and hoteliers are demanding the council acts to reopen a road which has been closed for a year.

Atlingworth Street in Brighton has been shut at the southern end since January because of subsidence.

Neighbours say the area is becoming a hot spot for drug taking and they want to know why the metal fences have been up for so long.

Rumours abound about what has caused the subsidence.

Some say they had heard an old smugglers’ cave had fallen in while others have been told a torture chamber has been discovered.

The closure forces residents – and guests at the narrow road’s three hotels – to perform tricky three-point turns and then drive the wrong way up the one-way street.

Some said it has now become a site for antisocial activity and drug taking.

One resident, who did not wish to be named, said: “Twice I’ve almost tripped over people on my front step who were clearly under the influence of something and we see people loitering in groups at the end of the street in the middle of the night.”

His wife said: “We believe it involves a sink hole caused by work to a tank at the end and behind that they have found what might be torture chamber or even an S&M chamber.”

Brighton and Hove City Council said the delay was down to complications of ownership of the building affected.

Pippa Clausen, from the Kemp Townhouse hotel, said: “It’s been a big inconvenience. I’ve heard neighbours have seen people doing drugs down there.

“The council should hurry up and sort it.”

Resident Josie Sullivan said: “Last week a cabbie told me it was because old smugglers’ tunnels have fallen in.”

Lauren Fletcher, manager of Blanch House hotel, said: “It’s not a very good first impression of Brighton.”