Ground in the former mining village of Coalsnaughton, Clackmannanshire, continues to sink, with officials warning of ongoing movement towards an 'epicenter' at a rate of approximately 2 millimeters per week. The phenomenon has kept nearly 100 properties evacuated since May, when cracks began appearing in homes and gardens as the ground shifted beneath them.
Officials from the Mining Remediation Authority (MRA) reported that the ground movement has not ceased entirely, although it has slowed. Carl Banton, Chief Operations Director for the MRA, stated that the buildings are still subsiding into the ground, moving towards a central point of origin for the movement.
An eight-week investigation concluded that the most probable cause of the subsidence is linked to historical coal mining activity beneath the site. A report last month indicated that previously treated coal seams appear to have provided only partial mitigation. Since 2018, ground levels have sunk by nearly two feet, with a large central area subsiding up to 0.6 meters.
Investigations into the disturbance, which resulted in several unsafe structures, began earlier this summer after the first signs of movement were observed on May 18. Residents in Benbuck View, Dunmoss View, Nechtan Drive, and Langour were evacuated, and utility services were cut off to facilitate the investigation.
The MRA is scheduled to meet with displaced residents on Thursday, August 27, to discuss the next steps. The authority noted that properties were constructed between 2012 and 2017 and that solutions will vary by street. The MRA's objective is to minimize future risk, manage the affected area safely, and provide appropriate long-term solutions, which may include stabilization works, continued monitoring, repairs, or property purchases.
Clackmannanshire Council stated that reviews confirmed planning applications for the area were processed in accordance with the statutory planning framework. Council leader Ellen Forson described the situation as complex and acknowledged the ongoing worry and uncertainty for residents, assuring them that they would remain central to all decisions.
Coalsnaughton, established in the 18th century to house miners, has a population of approximately 1,300 and is known to have numerous old mine shafts. The MRA clarified that the 'epicenter' refers to the origin of the movement, not a final destination for the subsiding structures. Remedial works will consider the movement that has occurred and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.