Is there a Coal Mining Risk in Southern England?

When Coal Mining is discussed, most people think of the coalfields in South Wales or The Midlands and some maybe thinking of the northeast or Scotland, with the map of coalfields in figure 1 showing the reason for this.

However, whilst the majority of coal mining areas are indeed located in South Wales the Midlands, The northeast and Scotland, coal mining did also occur in the south at several coalfields, located in Kent, Bristol & Somerset, and Devon.

In addition to these, there is also a coalfield beneath Oxfordshire although this has never been commercially exploited due to its combination of depth (300m-1,500m), thin seams and low quality coal and as such does not present a risk of mining induced subsidence.

The southern coalfields are covered by the Mine Remediation Authority (former Coal Authority) Reporting Areas, as shown in figure 2, and developments within these areas will require a Coal Mining Risk Assessment (CMRA) to be completed as part of the planning process.

However, in addition to coal mining, the south also has a legacy of non-coal workings including:

• Chalk & flint
• Building stone (sandstone & limestone)
• Brick Clay
• Metals (tin, copper, lead & arsenic)

Key Takeaways

Yes, there is a coal mining risk in some areas of the south.

There are also non-coal mining risks in the south.

Ground risk assessments should be based on evidence, not assumptions about location.

If you’re working on sites in the south, it is worth asking what is beneath the surface.