Smokeless fuel worry for coal merchants

Bannockburn was in the grip of a shortage of smokeless fuel, the Observer of May 1969, explained.

The issue of supplies to the area – a‘smoke control zone’where ordinary coal could not be burnt – had been raised with the Ministry of Fuel and Power.

At Stirling County Council’s health committee, Mr CM Brown (Fallin), said coal merchants in the area had been‘idle’for days because of insufficient supplies of smokeless fuel, leaving householders – many of them elderly – with nothing to burn in their grates and stoves.

Mr Brown called for an investigation into the supply issue but Mr Michael Mcinally (Sauchie), said there might be an issue with one brand of smokeless fuel which came from England.

He added, however, that two other brands, most of which came from Comrie, were in good supply.

Mr Mcinally blamed some coal merchants for not replenishing their stocks.

Members of the health committee were to be advised on the response by the Ministry of Power on the complaint that supplies of smokeless fuel had diminished.