A residents’ association has accused the council of “unapologetically mutilating the city” after a festival held in a historic garden caused a sinkhole.

An official report into the sinkhole in Old Steine Gardens, Brighton, which emerged in early January, linked it to a fairground ride that had been at the site over the festive season last year.

The weight of the ride, supported by a jack, appeared to have damaged a thin surface area which had a void or cavity beneath it, caused by water washing away fine soil.

A spokesman from Brighton and Hove City Council told The Argus at the time that it was “incredibly unlikely” the festival was the cause of the depression.

Gary Farmer, founder of the Old Steine Community Association, said the decision to approve the funfair at the site “mutilated” part of the city’s rich heritage.

He said: “The council said it was incredibly unlikely that the Christmas festival caused the sinkhole as they vehemently denied any link on numerous occasions, despite the evidence before them at the time.

“The council licensed the event and permitted heavy machinery to operate, which culminated in the ground collapsing in Old Steine.

“The failure to acknowledge the problem or consult with those involved at the time is endemic of a self-righteous council that continues to unapologetically mutilate the city and neglect Brighton and Hove’s heritage.”

The report came as work is set to begin on restoring the nearby Victoria Fountain, which has begun to tilt due to corroding bolts and faulty services above ground.

A spokesman for the council said: “Swallow holes are not uncommon in Brighton and Hove because of the chalk substrate beneath the city.

“The swallow hole that appeared at Valley Gardens following last year’s Christmas festival formed part of a much larger underground feature and has been repaired.

“The report does say that significant weight loads can 'punch through' the surface ground at Valley Gardens and cause underground holes to be revealed.

“The punch-through occurred at roughly the time of the removal of the funfair.

“At the time, we believed it was most likely that it had been caused by the exceptional amount of rain that had fallen at the time, as this is a frequent cause of swallow holes appearing.

“We cannot say for sure whether it was the rainfall or equipment or vehicles related to the festival that caused it.

“The council will take further precautions in future to ensure the ground is suitable for heavy loads, where this is deemed necessary.”

This year’s Christmas festival is being held at St Peter’s Church plaza, with organisers E3 Events partnering with Brighton Palace Pier to be the event’s official funfair.

E3 Events declined to comment.