Coal mining searches

The 1998 edition of the Law Society Guidance Notes and Directory governs the operation of the Law Society's coal mining search scheme with the Coal Authority.Some 390,000 searches were dealt with under the scheme in the year ended 31 March 2001.

Approximately 88% of enquiries were answered within two working days and 98% within five working days.The Law Society Directory (1998 edition) is the means by which practitioners can determine whether or not a coal mining report enquiry (CON29M) is required to be made.

The directory has later been amended in relation to Cirencester, Glossop, Bristol, Llangwm (Pembrokeshire) and in Congleton, Buglawton, Hightown and Mossley (all Cheshire) announced in the [1999] Gazette, 27 January, 46.As a result of additional information received by the Coal Authority some further changes to the directory can be reported.Billingsley, ShropshireBillingsley is inadvertently listed in the directory as a place where a coal mining search is not required.

Billingsley is a place where a coal mining search is required.Spondon and Oakwood, DerbySpondon (Derby, Derbyshire) is listed as a place where a coal mining search is required.

While it is close to the Derbyshire coalfield, the Coal Authority does not hold any coal mining information to affect property in Spondon and takes the view that a coal mining search is not required.Oakwood (Derby, Derbyshire) is not listed in the Directory.

It is a district close to Spondon on the outskirts of Derby that has seen tremendous development over recent years.

Even though a coal mining search is not required for Oakwood, it now warrants listing in the directory to confirm this.DevonIt has recently been discovered that in an area of countryside between Bideford and Chittlehampton in Devon there may have been coal workings, perhaps associated with clay mining, and some 20 disused shafts or adits.

In these circumstances Abbotsham, Bideford, Chittlehampton, Clapworthy, East the Water, Hiscott, Umberleigh and Woodtown are now places in Devon where a coal mining search is required.NLISThe Society is at an advanced stage of preparation for the introduction of National Land Information Service (NLIS).

It is hoped that arrangements will be in place shortly for the use of NLIS to submit mining enquiries (CON29M) and to receive the resulting reports.