North Lanarkshire Council continues work to extinguish underground coal tip near homes

A Scottish council is still working to resolve a smouldering fire in an underground coal tip, which started two months ago.

The incident, at a site near Coatbridge’s Burleigh Street, has been contained and is being monitored by specialists, North Lanarkshire Council said.

It is understood that the pit is a colliery spoil, which is the waste material, such as stone and other non-coal fragments, removed during coal mining operations.

Specialist contractors are on site to closely monitor the situation and have confirmed that air quality is at a safe level.

Preparations are being made to create a new access point to facilitate ongoing works.

Materials from the site have been removed for specialist testing and analysis, which the local authority will use to create a plan.

A spokesperson from the council said: “These investigations will guide the approach needed to fully extinguish the smouldering area and ensure the site remains stable and secure.

“We appreciate residents’ patience and understanding while this complex work continues.

“Regular monitoring and safety checks remain in place, and we’ll continue to keep you updated as progress is made.”