Part VE+W+S Supplemental

37 Avoidance of double claims.E+W+S

(1)A person entitled to give a damage notice under Part II of this Act in respect of subsidence damage to any property shall not be entitled to proceed at the same time in respect of the same damage to that property with both—

(a)such a notice; and

(b)a claim against the Corporation or a licensee of the Corporation for damages or compensation arising apart from this Act;

but a person so entitled may, subject to subsection (2) below, elect which notice or claim he will proceed with for the time being.

(2)Where any person proceeds with such a notice or claim as is mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (1) above (“the original notice or claim”), he shall not be entitled to proceed with such a notice or claim as is mentioned in the other of those paragraphs unless—

(a)it is determined, whether by agreement or otherwise, that he is entitled to none of the relief claimed by the original notice or claim; or

(b)that notice or claim is withdrawn before it is determined.

(3)Where two or more persons are entitled to give a damage notice under Part II of this Act in respect of the same subsidence damage to any property, subsections (1) and (2) above shall apply as if any election made by any one of them to proceed with such a notice had also been made by the other or others of them.

(4)The provisions of this Act and of any other enactment making provision with respect to rights and liabilities between the Corporation and any government department, local authority or statutory undertakers in respect of—

(a)the working of minerals under or adjacent to any property; or

(b)the leaving of minerals unworked for the support of any property,

shall have effect subject to the terms of any agreement with respect to such rights and liabilities which has been entered into between the Corporation and the department, authority or undertakers otherwise than in connection with a disposition of an interest in land and is for the time being subsisting.