Scottish Government sending £1m aid to help crisis-hit Coalsnaughton evacuations
Almost 100 families have been evacuated from Coalsnaughton due to unprecedented ground moving.
The SNP government has sent a crisis-hit council £1 million to help deal with mass evacuations due to unprecedented ground moving.
Almost 100 families in the former mining village of Coalsnaughton have been evacuated into the neighbouring towns and villages as their houses are moving up to 20 millimetres every day.
This has affected at least three streets in the village which have been built over a former shallow coal mine.
The Mining Remediation Authority will carry out investigation works over the next eight weeks, but many residents fear they will never be able to return to their homes.
First Minister John Swinney has now confirmed the Scottish Government will send Clackmannanshire Council £1m to help with the extra costs associated with this evacuation.
He made the comments in response to a question from Clackmannanshire and Dunblane MSP Keith Brown.
Speaking at backbench first minister’s questions, Mr Swinney said: “I saw first hand the enormous burden that is being addressed by the council in trying to support the residents affected by the evacuations, and the scale of the disruption in families turning their lives upside down.
“I am acutely aware that Clackmannanshire Council is dealing with an exceptional and unforeseen event so the deputy first minister has approved financial support of £1m to the council to make sure it is equipped to support individuals in the short-term, because these are significant costs being carried out by a very small local authority.”
He also said the residents of Coalsnaughton should be “assured” of the Scottish Government’s “sustained engagement” with both Clackmannanshire Council and the Mining Remediation Authority.
Last week The Scotsman spoke to some of the residents who had been told to evacuate but have chosen to stay put. Many raised concerns about the local authority, which is one of the smallest in Scotland, not having the finances and resources to cope with the crisis.
Lezley Creevy said: “This is a very small council that doesn’t have the resources. This is a community at breaking point.”
Councillor Ellen Forson, leader of Clackmannanshire Council, has welcomed the Scottish Government’s aid,and said it will provide “important reassurance” to those who hae been evacuated from Coalsnaughton.
She said: “I would like to thank the First Minister and the Scottish Government for recognising the significant impact this incident has had on our community and for responding quickly to provide practical assistance.
“Their support will help the council meet the significant costs of our emergency response, including temporary accommodation, welfare support and the additional resources required to assist affected residents.
“Above all, our focus remains on the people and families whose lives have been disrupted.
“We know this has been an incredibly difficult and uncertain time, and we will continue to work closely with all partners to ensure residents are supported and informed in this situation.”
Mr Swinney, Mr Brown and Justice Secretary Neil Gray visited the evacuation cordon in Coalsnaughton on Friday.
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