Hi
Can anyone in the group make suggestions re below.
The Shropshire Mines Trust owns the site of the Tankerville lead mine in
Shropshire. It includes a shaft which has been professionally capped
and the buildings such as the engine house have recently been repaired
to make them safe as well as preserving them.
There is no public right of way over the property but we have created a
concessionary path from the main road and have always invited the public
to enter the land to view the remains. We close this once a year to
maintain the principle of concessionary footpath.
In past years we took out an insurance policy that covered us as
landowners for public liability for the property. Unfortunately, the
current policy of "if it moves sue it" has got the insurance companies
running scared and our premium this year went shooting up to £500 which
we cannot afford. Especially as it seems likely that it will increase
yet again.
Presumably other individuals and groups own mine sites in the UK. We
would be grateful to hear if they are facing similar problems and if
they have found an insurance company that offers a more reasonable deal
than ours. Or, indeed, if there is another solution. We have considered
creating a limited company trust to take over th eland but a solicitor
told us that this would not protect the directors (aka trustees) in the
case of negligence.
It is a worrying trend in that we may see a fortress mentality of
closure of land through fear of bring sued.
Adrian
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Visit the following sites for references to all kinds of mining subjects
British Mining Database
http://www.ap.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/bmd.htm
National Association of Mining History Organisations
http://www.ap.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/namho.htm
Shropshire Mines Trust
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~lizcolin/smt.htm
Bersham Colliery Trust
http://www.ap.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/bct.htm
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