If you have a question that is not answered
below please check our ‘Glossary’ Section. If you
need further assistance please contact
CoalSearchPlus+
and our staff will be pleased to help in any way possible. Also
you can download the CSP online guide which details how to register
and use the website. Please download here.
Why do I need a coal mining search report?
What information is used to
compile a coal mining search report?
How accurate is the information
contained in a coal mining search report?
What does it mean if a mine
shaft is reported on my coal mining search report?
What should I do if I am concerned
about the information given in my coal mining search report?
What should I do if I think
my property has been affected by coal mining?
What does it mean if ‘unrecorded
ancient workings’ are reported?
What do the reported levels of
mining risk mean?
What does ‘no
further workings likely’ mean?
How do I make a complaint about CoalSearchPlus+products or services?
Why
do I need a coal mining search report?
A coal mining report is necessary when buying
a property or area of land in a coal mining affected part of the
country. The Law Society states that ‘ A coal mining enquiry
should be made by solicitors when acting on the occasion of any
dealing with land in coal mining areas (‘affected areas’),
including purchase, mortgage, further advance or before any development
takes place.’
What
information is used to compile a coal mining search report?
CoalSearchPlus+ use our own extensive database
of coal mining records, built up over 5 decades, data used under
license from The Coal Authority and other publicly
available sources of data to compile each and every coal mining
report. This information is reviewed by our team of geologists and
surveyors in order to produce your report.What information will
a coal mining search report give? Please see the CoalSearchPlus+
services page for details of the content of residential and commercial
coal mining reports.
Source attributions under Open Government License for Public Sector Information V3.0 :-
Contains British Geological Survey Materials © NERC 2020
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government License V3.0
Coal Authority data supplied under license may contain Ordnance Survey information Crown Copyright 1000020315 (2020)
How
accurate is the information contained in a coal mining search report?
A coal mining search report is based upon the
interpretation of plans and records that vary in age and quality,
have been drawn to a variety of different scales and may be in excess
of 250 years old. All CoalSearchPlus+ coal mining search reports
are compiled by expert geologists and surveyors who use these sources
of information to give an informative, balanced, interpretation
of the coal mining aspects of a site.
It should be remembered that the opinions expressed in a CoalSearchPlus+
report are based on the best information available at the time the
report is compiled and that coal mining records are continuously
updated as old, previously unknown, mine workings are discovered
or old plans come to light. Please be assured that your CoalSearchPlus+
report is produced from the most accurate coal mining information
available and fulfils all the requirements for property transactions
to proceed in an informed manner with an understanding of the risk
from past, present or future coal mining activity.
What does it mean if a mine shaft is reported
on my coal mining search report?
A mine shaft or adit is required to be reported
upon if it lies within 20m of a property or its boundary. This does
not necessarily mean that the property will have stability problems.
CoalSearch Plus+ can give further advice if a mineshaft has been
reported. There are 168,000 recorded coal mine shafts in the UK,
the majority of these do not cause any stability problems for property
at the surface.
What should I do if I am concerned about
the information given in my coal mining search report?
Please contact CoalSearchPlus+
if you have any queries concerning your coal mining report or our
coal mining report service. We will be pleased to help in any way
we can.
What should I do if I think my property
has been affected by coal mining?
If you think that your property is showing signs
of ground movement and/or instability, and you think that coal mining
may have caused this, please contact CoalSearchPlus+
for further advice. The Coal Authority, or coal mining licensees,
have a statutory obligation to remedy any damage caused by ground
movement due to coal mining activity. Through our parent company,
David Bellis Consulting Surveyors, CoalSearchPlus+ are able to provide
help and advice in dealing with any potential subsidence problems
that your property may be suffering. We can provide technical assistance
in monitoring subsidence, dealing with claims against the Coal Authority
or coal mining licensees and organising any remedial action that
may be necessary.
What does
it mean if ‘unrecorded ancient workings’ are reported?
Mining has taken place in the UK for many hundreds
of years however it was generally small scale until the 1700’s
and the birth of the industrial revolution. In 1872 the Coal Mines
Regulation Act was introduced to keep track of abandoned mine workings.
Prior to this date records of workings often do not exist and even
if they do may not be as accurate as plans drawn up at later dates.
If very early plans of mine workings exist or records suggest that
mine workings have taken place for which there are no precise plans
or records then a coal mining report will comment that there is
a possibility of ‘unrecorded ancient workings’. CoalSearchPlus+
will investigate all coal mining records that relate to a property
however where the records are imprecise and there is some indication
that ancient working could have taken place this comment will be
used.
Please refer to the summary and risk comment on your report that
give an indication of the level of risk posed by all the coal workings
relevant to your property.
What does
it mean if shallow workings are reported?
In most cases shallow workings are defined as those that have
taken place less than 30m below the land surface. If you have any
queries relating to shallow workings please contact
CoalSearchPlus+. Please refer to the summary and risk comment
on your report that give an indication of the level of risk posed
by all the coal workings relevant to your property including those
at shallow depth.
What do the reported
levels of mining risk mean?
1. No coal mining risk – there are no coal
deposits, either worked or unworked, in the likely zone of influence
of the property and there is therefore no risk to the property from
coal mining
2. Normal coal mining risk – coal deposits are present, either
worked or unworked, in the likely zone of influence of the property.
CoalSearchPlus+ have reviewed the coal mining information and the
geological maps of the area and do not consider the property to
represent a more significant risk than the majority of the housing
stock in the immediate area.
3. Abnormal coal mining risk - coal deposits are present, either
worked or unworked, in the likely zone of influence of the property.
Adverse coal mining and geological records relate to the property
and as such CoalSearchPlus+ regard the property to represent a high
risk with regard to coal mining related defects.
What does ‘no further workings likely’
mean?
No further workings likely means that although coal deposits are
present within the zone of influence of the property it is unlikely
that they will be worked in the future.
How do I make a complaint about CoalSearchPlus+ products or services?
Any disputes relating to the provision of coal mining search reports should be addressed to the practice principal David Bellis Consulting Surveyors Ltd in the first instance. Disputes will be settled according to the CoalSearchPlus+ complaints procedure detailed below:-
David Bellis Consulting Surveyors Ltd is registered with the Propoerty Codes Compliance Board as a subscriber to the Search Code. A key commitment under the code is that firms will handle any complaints both speedily and fairly.
If you want to make a complaint we will:
* Acknowledge it within 5 working days of receipt
* Normally deal with it fully and provide a final response, in writing, within 20 working days of receipt
* Keep you informed by letter, telephone or e-mail, as you prefer, if we need more time
* Provide a final response, in writing, at the latest within 40 working days of receipt
* Liase, at your request, with anyone acting formally on your behalf
If you are not satisfied with our final response, or we exceed the timescales, you may refer the complaint to The Property Ombudsmen scheme (contact details below)
Complaints should be sent to:
Mr M Peace, Director and Practice Principal, David Bellis Consulting Surveyors Ltd, 8 Mornington Terrace, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG1 5DH Tel: 01423 529911 Fax: 01423 529922 Email: contact@coalsearchplus.com
If you make a complaint and we are unable to resolve it to your satisfaction you may refer the complaint to The Property Ombudsman scheme (website www.tpos.co.uk email:admin@tpos.co.uk Tel: 01722 333306). We will cooperate fully with the Ombudsman during an investigation and comply with his final decision.
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