TWO of Scotland’s top rugby teams are being forced out of their home ground over fears that part of the pitch could disappear down an old mine shaft.
Engineers from the Coal Authority have launched urgent tests at Old Anniesland, the headquarters of the Scottish Premiership Division One club Glasgow Hawks and Scottish National League Division Two side Glasgow High Kelvinside.
Alarm bells rang earlier this month when a section of the venue – owned by the adjacent High School of Glasgow Former Pupils' Club – sank by several inches.
The Coal Authority whose staff have been at Old Anniesland all week confirmed the investigation began after discovering that a mine shaft once existed near the pitches.
Initial drilling tests by the Coal Authority. formerly the National Coal Board, looking into the possible existence of a mine shaft or entrance to a coal mine have been carried out on the north side of the main playing area.
The Jordanhill area has a long history of mining which produced not just coals but iron ore which was sent by canal to ironworks in the Airdrie and Coatbridge area for smelting into iron.
Hawks director Kenny Hamilton said: “The affected section has been cordoned off and thorough investigations are ongoing.
“The authority are treating it as a matter of priority because of the proximity to the school, which will be starting its autumn term in a few weeks.
“There is no suggestion, however, that the school buildings could be in any danger.”
Hawks are due to stage the season’s opening BT Premiership match against newly-promoted Marr on September 2.
But Hamilton admitted they will almost certainly have to find an alternative ground for the first part of the campaign.
Old Anniesland, which can hold up to 3500 spectators once hosted Scotland Club XV matches.
It consists of a main pitch for competitive games, and several other rugby pitches for play and training, some floodlit and one with Astroturf.
Mr Hamilton added: “We are already in discussions with other local clubs, such as Glasgow Warriors, neighbours Glasgow Accies, Kelvinside Academy and West of Scotland over the possible temporary use of their facilities.
“The fact is that large parts of the west end of Glasgow – particularly around Anniesland and Jordanhill – are build above old mine-workings, so it isn’t that much of a surprise when things like these happen.”
Historic sketch map of the Jordanhill coal mining area
The Coal Authority are duty bound to carry out any reparation work if it the issues are found to be coal-mining related.
A Coal Authority spokesman said: “Our initial desktop investigation discovered that there is a recorded mineshaft within close proximity of the depression in the ground.
"Our team has started ground investigation work to determine the exact cause of this incident and this is still ongoing.
"If these investigations show that the cause was due to historical coal mine workings, we will undertake further remediation works as required. That would be to make the area safe. That could involve filling the shaft with material and tneh placing a concrete cap on to stabilize.
"Until the investigations are completely done, we would, of course, not be able to design a solution."
It is said there at least seven pit shafts or air shafts an area bounded by Anniesland Road, the railway line and Crow Road. There were said to be at least another six pits just outside this area. Commercial coal mining is believed to have been carried for 200 years until the late 1800’s and covered an area of 1000 acres.
Coal Authority sources say those using Old Anniesland would potentially have to relocate while the works were being carried out. "Most of our remediation works would involve the ground being reinstated as is," said one source. "The aim is to put the area back the way it was."
A High School of Glasgow spokesman said: "The former pupils club and the high school are working with the authority to resolve the problem. There's been no safety issue since the problem was identified. It doesn’t affect the school at all.”
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