The Coal Authority and Cheshire Brine Subsidence Compensation Board.

Notice of change in arrangements for coal mining and brine subsidence claim searches.

From Monday 23rd October 2006, the CON 29M search in England and Wales will include coal mining enquiries and the enquiries previously made separately of the Coal Authority on behalf of the Cheshire Brine Subsidence Compensation Board.

A fully revised and updated Coal Mining and Brine Subsidence Claim Searches guide, containing the Law Society’s guidance and the Coal Authority’s advice and user guide to help practitioners order the search and understand the results, will be published and available by early November. The guide will include an updated Directory of Places in England and Wales showing the areas where a CON 29M is required, and a copy of the new form CON 29M (2006).

The benefits of the expanded CON 29M search service include:

• the convenience and value of a single search covering areas affected by coal mining and brine subsidence claims at no extra cost;
• extended free-of-charge online address screening service to help customers ensure they don’t order searches unnecessarily;
• the flexibility of search and payment methods and speed of delivery provided by the Coal Authority’s Mining Reports Service, enabling the majority of searches to be returned within 24 to 48 hours;
• the extension of the existing insurance scheme for residential properties to cover the additional brine elements of the report;
• new enquiries of the Coal Authority’s records of mine gas emissions and emergency surface hazard call-outs;
• clearer colour mapping, summary table and more user-friendly presentation.

Work is progressing with the Law Society of Scotland to also update the coal mining search scheme for Scotland, with an updated ScotForm (2006 edition) and guidance notes. From Monday 23rd October the ScotForm search will also include the new enquiries of the Coal Authority’s records of mine gas emissions and emergency surface hazard call-outs, clearer colour mapping, summary table and more user-friendly presentation.

Ground Stabilty Report Launch

The timing of these changes also coincides with the launch of the Ground Stability Report, a joint product from the British Geological Survey and the Coal Authority. This Ground Stability Report provides all the coal mining and brine subsidence claim search information outlined above, together with property specific information in simple language on the potential hazards related to natural subsidence throughout Great Britain. This report will fully satisfy both the Law Society’s due diligence requirements under CON29M 2006 edition (ScotForm 2006 in Scotland) and the Home Information Pack Regulations 2006 (Purchasers Information Pack in Scotland).