Acquisition of Land Act 1981

PART III

3 (1) If the owner of any underlying mines or minerals desires to work them, he shall give the acquiring authority notice in writing of his intention to do so 30 days before the commencement of working.

(2) On receipt of the notice the acquiring authority may cause the mines to be inspected by a person appointed by them for the purpose.

(3) Subject to paragraph 4(1) below, if the acquiring authority consider that the working of the underlying mines or minerals is likely to damage the undertaking, and is willing to compensate the owner for all or any part of the mines, the owner shall not work or get them.

(4) If the acquiring authority and the owner do not agree on the amount of compensation the question shall be referred to and determined by the Lands Tribunal.

4 (1) If before the expiration of 30 days from the receipt of notice under paragraph 3(1) above the acquiring authority do not state their willingness to treat with the owner for the payment of compensation the owner may work any of the underlying mines for which the acquiring authority has not agreed to pay compensation by proper methods and in the usual manner of working such mines in the district in question.

(2) If any damage or obstruction to the undertaking is caused by improper working of the underlying mines—

(a) the owner of the mines shall forthwith repair or remove the damage or obstruction at his own expense,

(b) the acquiring authority may, without waiting for the owner to perform his duty, or in case of his default, repair or remove the damage or obstruction and recover their expenses from the owner in proceedings in the High Court.

Severed mines

5 (1) If underlying mines in which any protected minerals are situated extend on both sides of the undertaking, the owner of the mines may cut and make any communication works through the protected minerals required for the ventilation, drainage and working of the mines.

(2) The communication works shall not exceed the dimensions or sections prescribed by the compulsory purchase order, and where dimensions are not so prescribed, they shall not be more than eight feet high and eight feet wide.

(3) The communication works shall not be cut or made on any part of the undertaking, or so as to injure it or impede its use.

(4) In this paragraph—

(a) "protected minerals" means mines, measures or strata the working of which is prevented under paragraph 3(3) above,

(b) “ communication works " means airways, headings, gateways or water levels.

6 (1) If underlying mines extend on both sides of the undertaking, the acquiring authority shall from time to time pay to the owner of the mines (in addition to any compensation under paragraph 3 above) any expenses and losses incurred by him in consequence of—

(a) the severance by the undertaking of the land lying over the mines,

(b) the interruption of continuous working of the mines in consequence of paragraph 3(3) above, and

(c) the mines being worked in such manner and subject to such restrictions as not to prejudice or injure the undertaking,

and for any minerals not purchased by the acquiring authority which cannot be obtained by reason of the making and maintenance of the undertaking.

(2) Any dispute as to the amount payable under this paragraph shall be determined by arbitration.

7 (1) Where works carried out under paragraph 5 above cause loss or damage to the owner or occupier of land lying over the mines the acquiring authority shall pay full compensation to him for the loss or damage.

(2) This paragraph shall not apply where the person sustaining the loss or damage is the owner of the mines.

Powers of entry

8 (1) For the purpose of ascertaining whether underlying mines have been worked so as to damage the undertaking the acquiring authority may, after giving 24 hours notice in writing—

(a) enter on any land in which the mines are, or are thought to be, being worked, and which is in or near to the land where the undertaking is situated, and

(b) enter the mines and any works connected with the mines.

(2) For the said purpose the acquiring authority may make use of any apparatus or machinery belonging to the owner of the mines, and may use all necessary means for discovering the distance from the undertaking to the parts of the mines which are, or are about to be, worked.

(3) If the owner of the mines refuses to allow a person appointed by the acquiring authority for the purpose to enter the mines or works under this paragraph he shall be liable on summary conviction to a sum not exceeding £50.

Remedial works

9 (1) If it appears that mines have been worked contrary to the provisions of this Schedule, the acquiring authority may give notice to the owner of the mines to construct such works and adopt such means as may be necessary or proper for making safe the undertaking, and preventing injury to it.

(2) If the owner of the mines does not comply with the notice, the acquiring authority may themselves construct the works, and may recover their expenses from the owner by proceedings in the High Court