Update on housing offers for displaced Coalsnaughton residents

Displaced Coalsnaughton residents who have been living in temporary student accommodation in Stirling should have a longer-term housing offer by the end of the month.

An update on the arrangements for the affected residents who were forced to move out of their homes after ground movement will be given to Clackmannanshire Council on Thursday.

Since the first homes had to be evacuated back in May, the local authority has confirmed that temporary housing for 20 households was secured within council homes, seven were decanted into wider Kingdom Housing stock and eight households were put into Stirling University student accommodation.

In addition, 27 households were housed by their insurance companies and 23 households were living with family or friends.

The remaining 12 households had a variety of solutions in place.

The report explained: “The council has continued to progress more longer-term housing solutions for residents, with tenanted residents being reconnected into Council and registered social landlord stock and owners being supported through MRA (Mining Remediation Authority) and insurance solutions.

“For those Kingdom tenants who have accepted decanted homes out with the Council authority, they have been offered the first refusal of any suitable future Kingdom property back in county.

“Officers anticipate that all remaining tenants residing within student accommodation will have a longer-term housing offer by the end of August.

“The Council will, however, continue to provide a housing safety net for households throughout the recovery phase.”

An emergency response began on May 18 with Benbuck View the first place to be affected before homes in Dunmoss View, Nechtan Drive and Langour became impacted.

A total of ninety‑seven households have now been evacuated after cracks appeared in roads, paths and homes in the former pit village, with streets fenced off and utilities cut off to affected properties.

The Mining Remediation Authority (MRA) completed an eight‑week investigation and found that former mining activity is responsible for the ongoing movement.