Families informed to depart ‘ceaselessly houses’ after surprising ‘discovery’

Edinburgh families have been told they need to temporarily leave their properties just four months after moving into what they believed to be their forever homes

Families have been told to leave their properties just four months after moving in. It follows the discovery that they were constructed on top of a mineshaft.

The properties on Gilbert View in Gilmerton, Edinburgh were developed by Miller Homes before being allocated to residents via housing association Places For People. Many of the families affected had spent years in temporary accommodation, desperately waiting for a permanent placement.

They now face the enormous upheaval of relocating, along with all their possessions and furniture, for up to eight weeks in September. Among those impacted is Michelle Goldie, who became the first resident on the street to learn about the mine after a workman fixing her fence accidentally revealed the information.

She had only moved in five months earlier and hadn’t even finished unpacking properly. She must now collect all her belongings before being relocated to temporary accommodation at a location that remains unknown, reports Edinburgh Live.

She said: “Maybe these things should have been checked before people were actually handed their keys, because obviously, as I said, I had signed my lease in January and moved in February.

“I know people moved in behind me, but we’re still sort of trying to unpack and get organised, or maybe these things should have been done and dealt with and checked, considering Gilmerton is based on mines. I felt like this could have been prevented.”

Michelle said the most significant impact would be on her children and while she felt Places For People were “trying their best”, the circumstances were “not ideal”.

Places for People officials have confirmed they have visited to discuss with residents the necessary works following the discovery of the mining structure beneath properties. While some residents were home and managed to speak with a representative, others were absent and found a letter posted through their door.

They outlined the work as “preventative groundworks” and assured residents there is no danger – but the work is essential to prevent any problems developing in the future.

Carly Miller, 35, and her family had been house-hunting for 15 years and spent eight of those in temporary accommodation before securing their three-storey property on Gilbert View.

She said: “We all came home to these letters saying we were getting booted out of our house pretty much, because they had found a mine when they were building behind us. Someone’s not done their job right.

“What makes this even more distressing is that we are being offered alternative properties outside our local area, including locations as far as East Lothian and South Queensferry.

“Many of us have young children who attend local schools in Edinburgh, and relocating such a distance will have a huge impact on their education, childcare arrangements, work commitments, and family life.

“My work actually thought I was making it up because we were in temps before. I had to take time off work, getting from one temp to another temp, I had to get time off again to move here, and when I phoned him and said I’m not coming in, I’ve had this letter, he was like, ‘Are you winding me up?'”.

“I’ve had to provide proof that we’re getting kicked out.”

Carly expressed her anger at the situation, saying she feels as though she’s “living in the unknown”.

She added: “It’s the children that we feel for, I’m having to uplift my kids again.”

Residents have been informed that additional groundworks are being carried out, leading to confusion about why they need to vacate their homes if only their gardens are being excavated.

However, Monica McManus will be left out of pocket regardless, having spent thousands on transforming her new build garden. With a bespoke chicken coop, a fully stocked shed and a garden teeming with plants, Monica is “absolutely devastated.”

She said: “This is meant to be our forever home. We were all in temporary accommodation beforehand, so it was like this is your house, you can be here for the rest of your life if you want to be.

“It was an absolute dream come true moving in here. We’ve only just settled in and then bang.

“The work needs to be done in the garden, so I know for a fact, all this is gonna get trashed. I’m gonna have to take my chickens with me no matter where I go.”

Monica has been assured by Places For People officials that they’ll move heaven and earth to find her somewhere suitable for her chickens – though she still requires access to her current home at least twice weekly to tend to her plants and feed her snake.

She went on: “If they had come to us when they first discovered this and been like, ‘Right, OK. We’ve just discovered this, but we’ve got you on top of our mind. Here’s the plan, this is what we’re gonna do with you.

“It won’t be right now, but in a couple of months’ time, and give us time to adjust, instead of coming last Thursday and being like, ‘You need to be out by the end of next month, tear down everything that you’ve done and move everything at your house.'”.

“It’s crazy. We’ve just settled in. The thought of having to move everything out and then into somewhere else and then back in is just… It’s crazy.”

A Places for People Scotland spokesperson said: “We understand that customers at Edgelaw View may be concerned by news of upcoming groundworks and the need for a temporary move from their homes.

“We have personally visited the home of every customer impacted, and have been able to speak to the majority directly. Everyone has been given a letter and sent an email with all details, including an extensive QandA. We are also working on answering a number of follow-up questions customers have and any concerns around the alternative accommodation.

“The developer of the homes, Miller Homes, recently informed us that a previously unidentified mining feature beneath specific locations within the development has been identified and requires preventative groundworks to be carried out.

“We’d like to reassure customers that these works are precautionary and designed to protect homes against any future issues – there is no current or immediate risk. To allow the works to be completed safely, a small number of households will need to move into temporary accommodation for up to eight weeks from late August.

“We appreciate that this will be unsettling for customers and their families, and we are working to make this process as easy as possible and with no extra costs. We will be supporting with the logistics and costs of moving, suitable alternative accommodation, and any wider impacts on daily life.”

Miller Homes has provided assurances to customers that there is no immediate danger to properties in the vicinity.

A spokesperson said: “We have identified a requirement for additional groundworks in specific locations at Edgelaw View, impacting a small number of unoccupied homes and some occupied properties that are managed by Places for People Scotland.

“A few Miller Homes customers will experience a slight delay in moving into their new homes, and we have communicated with the impacted customers regarding their revised entry dates.

“These works are precautionary and designed to protect homes against any future issues. While there is no immediate risk to homes, the safety and well-being of residents is our top priority. We are working with Places for People to ensure their tenants receive the information and support they need to minimise disruption while we complete these works.”