Duty to reinstate land.
7(1)Subject to this paragraph, it shall be the duty of the gas authority to make good any damage to the surface of any land caused in the exercise of their powers under paragraph 2(1)(b) and (c) of this Schedule and, where the land is agricultural land, to secure, so far as practicable, that any damaged land is so restored as to be fit for use for the purpose for which it was used immediately before the damage occurred.
(2)The gas authority shall discharge their duty as soon as practicable and, in any case, not later than one month from the time when the direction under this Schedule ceases to be in force.
(3)Sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph shall not apply if the direction by virtue of which the powers were exercised terminates with the coming into force of a storage authorisation order and the land is purchased by the gas authority for the purposes of the underground gas storage.
(4)Any question as to compensation payable under the last foregoing paragraph in respect of any damage which a gas authority may be under a duty to make good under this paragraph shall be assessed having regard to the steps which the gas authority have taken or agreed to take to discharge that duty.