One in ten workers have jobs after Scottish Coal collapse

That depressing statistic was quoted by the area’s Labour List MSP Claudia Beamish this week as, in an associated issue, steps were taken to prevent the taxpayers of the area ever again having to pick up the colossal ‘repair bill’ to restore Clydesdale’s eyesore former opencast mining sites.

The terrible double legacy of unemployment and environmental damage left by the coal company going into administration in April has become increasingly clear in the past few weeks, the Gazette revealing last week that the taxpayer will probably have to pay the massive bill to restore former Douglas Valley mines like Mainshill and Glentaggart.

When seeking planning permission to mine these and other Clydesdale sites, Scottish Coal were only required to set aside a `bond’ of £14m with South Lanarkshire Council for their eventual restoration.

It is feared by many that this sum will go nowhere near covering the eventual true restoration costs, still being calculated by the council.