John Swinney has pledged £1 million of additional cash to help a council cope with an “exceptional and unforeseen event” which has seen scores of residents in a former mining village evacuated from their homes.
Around 100 households in Coalsnaughton in Clackmannanshire have had to temporarily quit their properties amid concerns over ground movements. With residents facing a likely wait of several weeks before they can return, the First Minister confirmed additional money for Clackmannanshire Council to help it meet their needs.
The cash is aimed at ensuring the local authority can cover expenses such as temporary housing, welfare and staffing costs. Mr Swinney, who visited the area last week, said the council was dealing with an “enormous burden” as a result of the “exceptional and unforeseen event”.
View 2 ImagesResidents have been evacuated from their homes over fears of collapsing disused coal mines(Image: SWNS)
Keith Brown, the SNP MSP Clackmannanshire and Dunblane, raised the issue at the backbench session of First Minister’s Questions at Holyrood. Mr Brown stressed the need to “ensure residents continue to receive essential support”, adding that the local council should not be “left bearing the costs of this unprecedented emergency alone”.
Mr Swinney told him the additional funding had been approved by Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth – who is also the Finance Secretary. He added that the £1 million would “make sure that the council is equipped financially to provide the support to individuals that is required in the short term”, telling MSPs that “there are very significant costs that are being carried by a very small local authority”.
The First Minister said: “I hope that initial allocation of £1 million will help to support the local authority in its moment of need.”
It comes after residents had to begin evacuating back on May 18, as the Mining Remediation Authority carries out investigations to establish the cause of the ground movement.
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Speaking last week, Carl Banton, the chief operations director at the Mining Remediation Authority, said: “We are doing all we can, as quickly as possible, alongside the Local Resilience Partnership to understand the cause of this incident, and identify the potential activity needed to make the area safe again. Our thoughts remain with the residents affected.”
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