Press reports coal merchants running low of stock as strike goes on

Throughout the coming months, we'll look back at how the miners' strike was reported in the Press, continuing with 'Threat to home fires', as coal merchants throughout the local area report stocks running low (March 30, 1984):

SUPPLIES of domestic coal in West Fife will be exhausted within a three or four week period, if the miners' strike continues.

The three-week-old strike is now having a drastic effect on coalyards. Rexco Ltd., in Oakley, fear that they may have to close down their operation until coal supplies become available.

The Manager, Mr F. A. Bovill, told the Press: "At present, we are only delivering our product to hospitals, schools and old age pensioners - only priority customers are being accommodated.

"We are ticking over with what fuel we have on stock and we probably have enough to cover our needs for three or four weeks.

"When all the stocks that are on the ground are sold we will have to close down until the strike is over and we receive new supplies."

READ MORE: 'Rallying Support' reports Dunfermline Press on miners' strike

The Claremont Coal Company Ltd., of Bruce Street, Dunfermline, reckons that it will be only a matter of days before their supplies of ordinary house coal run out. However, they have a "fair" stock of smokeless fuel - enough for two or three weeks.

A Company spokesman said: "There are no supplies reaching us at present and we are delivering to regulars only."

The story is the same at Murray Mentiplay, Coal Merchants, of Rhynd House, Saline. They, too, are receiving no supplies and are restricting their deliveries to regular customers.

A spokeswoman stated: "We have enough to last for approximately three weeks - we are not getting any coal in and after that we will simply have to stop going out with the lorries because we will not have any fuel to sell.

"We are delivering to regulars only. I think that's what the majority of the merchants in the area are doing."

Meanwhile, picketing continued at pits and opencast sites throughout West Fife.

READ MORE: Dunfermline Press reports on miners' 'All-Out Battle'

Small groups of pickets are on duty at Longannet Power Station, at the Rexco Plant at Comrie Colliery and at the Arthur Opencast Site near Wellwood.

A Police spokesman said that the picketing had been very peaceful and that there had been no trouble whatsoever.

He added that the only coal being moved from the pits was for delivery to schools, hospitals and old age pensioners.

Soup kitchens throughout the area have been in operation during the week and are being well-frequented, and miners expressed their gratitude to local shopkeepers who contributed foodstuffs for the kitchens, whether as companies or as individuals.

READ MORE: How the Press reported the start of the strike

A "High Noon" meeting of West Fife miners is planned for Sunday, when the Vice-Chairman of the Scottish Area NUM, Mr George Bolton, will address an audience at Woodmill Miners' Club.

Mr Bob Young, Chairman of Comrie Branch NUM, told the Press: "We are expecting approximately 300 men to attend the meeting.

"Obviously, the men know what is happening on a local level. The meeting is simply being arranged from an information point of view to let them know what the situation is nationally."

Dunfermline West MP, Mr Dick Douglas, will represent the Labour Party at the Sunday meeting, and Mr Peter Nielson, a Scottish Executive representative of SCEBTA, will also be in attendance.