Coal Mining Subsidence Act 1991

Notices, information and reports

46 Notices to property owners etc

(1) Subject to subsection (2) below, where it is proposed to carry on any underground coal-mining operations, the Corporation—

(a) shall give to the owners or occupiers of any land which might be affected by subsidence as a result of the operations notice that there is a risk of their land being so affected; and

(b) shall give notice that they have done so to any organisation appearing to them to be representative of those owners or occupiers.

(2) Subsection (1) above shall not apply in any case where—

(a) the underground coal-mining operations in question are proposed to be carried on by a licensee of the Corporation whose licence was granted before 1st May 1991; and

(b) the Corporation have no knowledge of the licensee’s proposals.

(3) Where notice has been given under subsection (1)(a) above in respect of any land, the Corporation shall give to the owners or occupiers notice of any of the following facts, that is to say—

(a) any decision not to proceed with the proposed operations;

(b) anything which gives the Corporation reason to believe that there is no longer any risk of the land being affected by subsidence; and

(c) the discontinuance of any operations which have been carried on.

(4) Where notice has been given under subsection (1)(a) above in respect of any land, the Corporation shall from time to time, until notice is given under subsection (3) above in respect of that land, give notice to the owners or occupiers reminding them of any risk there may be of the land being, or having been, affected by subsidence.

(5) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision as respects—

(a) the contents and form of notices under this section;

(b) the times at which and the manner in which such notices are to be given;

(c) any information which is to accompany such notices.

(6) If no other time for giving a notice under subsection (4) above is prescribed under subsection (5)(b) above, the Corporation shall give the notice within the period of one year beginning with the date on which the most recent notice under this section was given.

(7) If no other manner for giving a notice under this section is so prescribed, the Corporation shall take all reasonably practicable steps for bringing the notice to the attention of the person to whom the notice is to be given.

(8) In this section—

(a) references to land include references to any buildings, structures or works on, in or over land; and

(b) references, in relation to any land, to the owners or occupiers include references to any person who is the owner or occupier of any part of the land or is liable to make good in whole or in part any subsidence damage affecting the land.

47 Notices to local authorities

(1) Subject to subsection (3) below, where it is proposed to carry on any underground coal-mining operations, the Corporation shall give notice of the operations to any local authority whose area includes land which may be affected by subsidence as a result of the operations.

(2) Subject to subsection (3) below, where any underground coal-mining operations are being carried on, the Corporation shall give notice of such facts as may be prescribed to any local authority whose area includes land which has been or may be affected by subsidence as a result of the operations.

(3) Subsections (1) and (2) above shall not apply in any case where—

(a) the underground coal-mining operations in question are proposed to be or are being carried on by a licensee of the Corporation whose licence was granted before 1st May 1991; and

(b) the Corporation have no knowledge of the licensee’s proposals or activities.

(4) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision as respects—

(a) the contents and form of notices under this section;

(b) the times at which such notices are to be given;

(c) any information which is to accompany such notices.

(5) Each local authority shall—

(a) secure that copies of all notices and other information received by them under this section are made available, at all reasonable times, for inspection by the public free of charge; and

(b) provide facilities for obtaining copies of such documents on payment of a reasonable fee.

(6) In this section “local authority” means—

(a) in relation to England and Wales, the council of a district or non-metropolitan county;

(b) in relation to Scotland, a district or islands council.

48 Provision of information on request

(1) The Secretary of State may make regulations requiring the Corporation, on a request made to them by any person in such form (if any) as may be prescribed, to provide that person with any information which—

(a) relates to, or to subsidence resulting from, coal-mining operations;

(b) is of a prescribed description; and

(c) is in their possession or is reasonably available to them.

(2) The descriptions of information which may be prescribed include in particular information relating to the proximity to any particular land of—

(a) any coal workings which have been, are being or are proposed to be carried on by any person;

(b) any geological or other physiographical feature which is capable of affecting the occurrence of subsidence.

(3) Regulations under this section may—

(a) provide that the obligation to give information applies only where the request is made in prescribed circumstances and by a person of a prescribed description; and

(b) require the payment of fees by persons making requests in prescribed cases.

49 Reports on operation of Act

(1) The Secretary of State may give directions to the Corporation requiring them, on or before a specified date or at specified intervals, to make a report to him on, or on any specified matters relating to, the operation of this Act during any specified period or periods.

(2) Directions given under this section may—

(a) specify the matters to be dealt with, and any particular information to be given, in any such report and the form in which any such report is to be made; and

(b) require the Corporation to publish any such report in any specified manner.

(3) The Secretary of State shall lay before Parliament a copy of every report received by him under this section.

(4) In consequence of the preceding provisions, it shall not be necessary for any annual report made under section 54 of the [1946 c. 59.] Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946 after the commencement of this section to include any report on the operation of this Act.