The Coal Authority has confirmed they are undertaking an investigation after eight houses on Sharphill Road, Saltcoats had to be evacuated in the early hours of Saturday morning [September 25].

Ten people are currently living in temporary accommodation after their houses were deemed unsafe after their homes began to 'sink' into the ground around midnight.

Specialist engineers have been deployed to the site - where it is understood to be built over an existing coal mine - to establish the cause of the ground problems. 

Large areas of Saltcoats and wider Ayrshire have been built on previous coal mining land as shown below on the Coal Authority interactive map of the location marked 'development high-risk area' in black.

The road remains closed. 

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald:

A spokesperson for the Coal Authority said: "At 1.50 am on Saturday,  September 25, 2021, Emergency Services were notified of an incident of damage to property in Sharphill Road, Saltcoats, Ayrshire.

"Ten residents from eight properties in Sharphill Road were then evacuated as a safety precaution.

"Specialist engineers from the Coal Authority deployed to the site and worked with Emergency Services to assess the extent of the damage and ensure the safety of the site. 

"We are now carrying out a number of physical investigations to determine whether the incident is coal mining-related.

"If these investigations show that the cause was due to historical coal mining activity, then the Coal Authority will undertake any remediation work that is required.

"Our thoughts are with those families affected by this incident.  Our On-Site Support team is working with those directly affected and has made special provisions to enable residents to collect urgent and essential items.

"The site is cordoned off and members of the public are asked to observe the restrictions at the site to allow work to proceed safely."