Nearly 100 homes in the former mining village of Coalsnaughton, Clackmannanshire, remain off-limits after sudden ground movement forced a staggered evacuation in May. Authorities say an investigation by the Mining Remediation Authority will take at least eight weeks, meaning many families could be unable to return for around two months.
Local officials confirmed 97 properties across four streets were affected after signs of subsidence and cracking were found. The evacuations began on 18 May when residents reported shaking in homes; further assessments led to additional clearances on 28 and 29 May.
Immediate impact and safety measures
People displaced from Benbuck View, Dunmoss View, Nechtan Drive and Langour have been staying with relatives or moved into temporary accommodation while engineers assess structural safety. As a precaution, gas and electricity supplies to the most affected streets have been turned off.
The council and response partners emphasised that, despite some buildings being labelled as unsafe, there have been no reported injuries linked to the movement. Teams from the Scottish Government, Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are supporting the local response alongside the council and the MRA.
What officials say
At an update meeting held on 2 June, Clackmannanshire Council’s chief executive outlined the priority as looking after residents’ welfare and giving clear, timely information. The MRA’s operations director outlined the investigative work already underway and said the technical probe will need a minimum of eight more weeks to determine cause and scope.
The MRA has released images to show how the ground is shifting; agency data also indicates a former mine entrance was located beneath what is now Dunmoss View, adding context to why the area is being treated with caution.
- Properties affected: 97 homes across four streets
- Initial evacuation: 18 May (30 homes)
- Further evacuations: 28–29 May (additional homes totalled to 97)
- Investigating body: Mining Remediation Authority (MRA) — at least eight more weeks of work
- Services: Gas and electricity disconnected in high-risk streets as a precaution
- Support: Council, Scottish Government, Police Scotland, Scottish Fire & Rescue Service involved
For residents, the next fortnight will bring more detailed surveys and decisions about stabilisation or longer-term remediation. Officials have said they will remain in the area to provide advice and support while the technical work continues.
Beyond the immediate disruption, the incident highlights challenges in communities built over historic mine workings: ground behaviour can change suddenly, and identifying hidden voids or legacy mine entrances can lengthen the time it takes to make areas safe again.
Clackmannanshire Council asked the public to follow official guidance from local resilience partners and to avoid the cordoned areas while investigations continue. Authorities have pledged further updates as new findings are confirmed.
Hi, I’m Benjamin, a member of the Sherburne County Citizen team. With a passion for writing and a deep interest in current affairs, I thoroughly enjoy bringing you the latest news and trends that affect our daily lives.
