Homes evacuated in second street after ground movement reported

A further 30 homes have been evacuated in a second Clackmannanshire street after ground movement was reported in the area.

Thirty homes in Benbuck View, Coalsnaughton, were evacuated as a precaution on 18 May following reports of "unsafe structures".

But Clackmannanshire Council has confirmed "further issues" have now been reported and found in nearby Dunmoss View.

The Mining Remediation Authority (MRA) earlier said it was working closely with the local authority after the new signs of ground movement were detected.

The Benbuck View residents have not been allowed back into their homes since the evacuation, but have been allowed accompanied visits to collect belongings.

Clackmannanshire Council chief executive Nikki Bridle said the 30 additional homes were evacuated on Wednesday.

She added: "The priority of all Local Resilience Partners continues to be the safety of everyone involved, and our officers remain in the local area to offer further guidance to residents during what we appreciate is a worrying time for them.

"This includes offering support to the residents as they navigate the next steps, which will include contacting their insurers."

Bridle said the specialist investigations undertaken by MRA were "expected to take some time to complete".

She added: "We will continue to make sure that residents can be updated with progress as soon as this information becomes available."

Earlier, after the first reports of new ground movement, an MRA spokesperson said: "We understand how worrying this is for the community, and we are doing everything we can to support Clackmannanshire Council and those affected and respond as quickly and safely as possible.

"Work is continuing at pace to establish the cause of this incident, with multiple specialist teams on site undertaking detailed engineering assessments."

The spokesperson said that traffic management and additional security measures had been put in place while the work was carried out.

The spokesperson added: "Our priority remains the safety of residents, our people and partners, and we will provide further updates as more information becomes available."

Last week the local authority imposed a three-week road closure in Benbuck View for "ground investigations and safety reasons".

The site has been secured with fencing erected and security and police present to prevent unauthorised access.

Water, gas and electricity in the street have been disconnected while the work is carried out.

The council warned against speculating on the cause of the ground movement, saying "a number of possibilities" were being considered.

The council said structural inspections and other investigations were under way to determine when it may be safe for residents to return to their properties.

A question and answer page on its website said: "Activity on site currently includes property inspections, ground investigations, trial digs and drilling, alongside the installation of cameras and ground sensors.

"These measures are helping teams build a clearer picture of what is happening below the surface and plan the next steps with as much care and accuracy as possible."