Anger as Coalsnaughton residents evacuated due to ground movement face 'filthy' accommodation

A mother evacuated from her home due to ground movement in a former mining village has told Sky News she is on the "verge of a breakdown" as her family faces being moved into "filthy" temporary accommodation.

Almost 100 houses have been cleared out in Coalsnaughton, Clackmannanshire, since 18 May amid safety concerns.

The Mining Remediation Authority (MRA) is investigating the incident and informed residents earlier this week that a further two months will be needed to get to the root of the problem.

Those that live within the affected streets - Benbuck View, Dunmoss View, Nechtan Drive and Langour - are bracing to be out of their homes for longer than the eight weeks.

First Minister John Swinney and Justice Secretary Neil Gray visited the area on Friday to meet residents and agencies.

Emma Little, who has lived in Benbuck View for four years, said she is "terrified" to go back.

She told Sky News: "After that, I don't want to be in something that you're having to keep an eye on - and living in fear that I'm going to be in this position again because I wouldn't be able to handle it.

"I'm honestly on the verge of a breakdown with the stress. I'm constantly chasing my tail trying to find somewhere habitable for me, my child and my husband to live."

The family, who own their home, were given just minutes to grab the essentials before being evacuated.

Since then, they have stayed with her mother, her mother-in-law, private accommodation, a glamping pod with no cooking or washing facilities, and now a holiday let.

Ms Little spent a lot of time wrangling with her insurers and raising the money needed to extend the family's stay right through the eight weeks, but the booking fell through and from 15 June they will need new accommodation.

Clackmannanshire Council has moved some of the residents to student accommodation in Stirling, which has sparked upset due to families and couples being separated into single rooms and the poor state of the facilities.

Emma said those who turn down the student accommodation offer risk losing support from the local authority to find somewhere else.

The council was contacted for comment.

In regards to the student accommodation, Ms Little said: "It's filthy. I'm not putting my daughter on a stained mattress with cigarette burns on the carpet.

"That's not the environment she's used to. That's not the environment any child should be subjected to - especially in an emergency through something that's not her fault.

"And then you feel like you're being a nuisance because you're saying, 'well, I'm not going there'."

She said a meeting held at Devonvale Hall in Tillicoultry earlier on Friday was fraught with tension.

"It was a different vibe today," she told Sky News. "The tensions were high - you could feel the vibe and the anger.

"And people are snipping at each other because the patience is just not there now."

She said the residents were living in "limbo" as there had been no clear timelines and the situation for her family was not stable enough to book something long-term.

"At the moment it's us that are being punished because we are in limbo," she said.

"Somebody needs to take liability so that we can get access to housing, so that we can get access to long-term funding, so that we can start building a life and stability for our children.

"But at the moment nobody's willing to take that on, so we're just getting put from pillar to post."

During the first minister's visit, cracks were visible in some of the buildings he viewed.

Mr Swinney said: "It is important that public safety is prioritised and I've been assured that urgent work is under way to establish the causes of this incident."

He said it was important that every affected resident is "properly and well supported by quality accommodation solutions".

The first minister added: "If people have had to leave their homes in very short order, it's enormously distressing and stressful for people.

"So, we've got to make sure that solutions are put in place that assist individuals. Clackmannanshire Council is working with individuals to try to do that.

"But I've also made clear that the Scottish government will work to support the council and its efforts by collaborating with other housing associations, other local authorities to try to find solutions that will meet the needs of individuals."

Clackmannanshire Council leader Ellen Forson said during the visit she stressed the "significant impact" the ongoing incident is having on all those affected.

She added: "We will continue to work closely with our partners and do everything possible to support residents and families through what remains a very challenging time."

Carl Banton, chief operations director of the MRA, said further updates would be provided as more information becomes available.

He added: "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."

(c) Sky News 2026: Anger as Coalsnaughton residents evacuated due to ground movement face 'filthy' accommodation