Left coal production in the area (5)
I believe the answer is:
local
'in the area' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'left coal production' is the wordplay.
'left' becomes 'l' (common abbreviation).
'production' indicates anagramming the letters.
'coal' with letters rearranged gives 'ocal'.
'l'+'ocal'='LOCAL'
(Other definitions for local that I've seen before include "Regional; a pub" , "Near at hand" , "(Pub) of the district" , "stopping train" , "bar" .)