Further eight Coalsnaughton homes evacuated amid ground movement investigation

A further eight homes have been evacuated in Coalsnaughton after the properties were declared “dangerous” due to the shifting ground.

Almost 100 properties have been evacuated since the movement was first detected in the former mining village on May 18.

Benbuck View was closed off, and 30 properties were evacuated after slabs buckled and cracks appeared in buildings.

Another 30 homes were emptied after further reports of ground movement in Dunmoss View on May 27.

There was then an additional evacuation of 28 homes on Nechtan Drive and nine in Langour.

It is now understood that more residents have been ordered to leave after almost two months of investigations.

Residents in a Clackmannanshire village were forced to evacuate after ground movements STV News

The Mining Remediation Authority has revealed that eight homes have been issued with Dangerous Building Notices, which are official orders served on property owners by a local council.

Six of those notices were issued by Clackmannanshire Council on Friday, with two others having been issued previously.

A spokesperson for the Mining Remediation Authority said: “We understand that Clackmannanshire Council has issued Dangerous Building Notices for six more properties in Coalsnaughton affected by the ground movement.

“This is in addition to the two properties that already have notices in place.

“The Mining Remediation Authority is continuing its investigations and remains committed to supporting the Council and residents where needed.”

The local authority confirmed that notices have been issued to homeowners in the Langour area.

Homes were issued with evacuation notices on Friday STV News

It is understood that the affected homes were initially advised to leave, but they chose not to.

A Clackmannanshire Council spokesperson said: “The council has served Dangerous Building Notices on owners of properties in Langour, Coalsnaughton.

“This action has been taken under the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 following detailed inspections and professional advice from structural engineers, which identified defects that may present a risk to public safety.

“We recognise this is a worrying time for the affected residents and we will engage directly with them to ensure they receive clear information and support.”

One affected resident, Ross MacPhee, told STV News that he could not comprehend why his entire street had been served whilst neighbouring streets had not.

He said: “I understand it’s a dangerous situation, but I don’t think there is a fundamental, data-backed decision-making process to serve you these papers.”

The notice states that if the residents do not leave their homes, a warrant will be issued to force them from the properties.

Naiomi Stevenson added: “There is a lack of transparency from the Local Resilience Partnership.

“The MRA are given us data saying that we are safe, the structural engineers have given us data that it is safe.

“This is the information that the LRP has. We asked last week to have a sit-down meeting with them, but they are hiding from it.

“We were meant to receive a written letter from all partners this week, but we have not received anything.”

First Minister says evacuation is ‘enormously distressing and stressful’

Last month, First Minister John Swinney visited Coalsnaughton to chair a roundtable with members of the local council, the Mining Remediation Authority, and other organisations.

Following the meeting, Swinney stated that the ongoing operation “requires sustained involvement” from the Scottish Government.

He told STV News that Holyrood will continue to support the agencies involved in an effort to “find solutions”.

The First Minister added: “If people have had to leave their homes in very short order, it’s enormously distressing and stressful for people.

“So we’ve got to make sure that solutions are put in place that assist individuals. Clackmannanshire Council is working with individuals to try and do that.

“But, I’ve also made clear that the Scottish Government will work to support the council in its efforts by collaborating with other housing associations, other local authorities, to find solutions that will meet the needs of individuals.”

Clackmannanshire Council Leader Ellen Forson said she was “grateful” for the visit of the First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Justice Neil Gray to the impacted mining village.

The Councillor added: “During the visit I stressed the significant impact this major, ongoing incident is having on the affected residents and the uncertainty and disruption they face.

“Our thoughts remain with all those impacted by this incident. We will continue to work closely with our partners and do everything possible to support residents and families through what remains a very challenging time.”

The visit comes in the wake of Brian Leishman, Labour MP for Alloa and Grangemouth, raising the issue at Prime Minister’s Questions – saying people in Coalsnaughton are suffering “emotional and financial distress”.