Bruce George MP has for many years been fighting the cause of constituents who experience difficulties in selling their properties due to the proximity of mineshafts.

Bruce has had a number of meetings with the Coal Authority and recently launched a further campaign, nationally and locally, in order to ascertain from local estate agents, valuers and mortgage lenders what their policy was in relation to this matter.

Bruce George said “The response to date has been poor - regrettably a number of building societies and banks whom I have written to have not responded. There appears to be a difference of opinion amongst valuers, some feel that mineshafts do not have appreciable affect on value of properties whilst others think that their presence makes the property unmortgagable. Prospective buyers also have difficulty in securing insurance, therefore, no insurance results in no mortgage! However, in September 2003 the Coal Authority introduced interpretive mining reports and an insurance scheme. It is my view that Building Societies, Banks, Valuers should accept the Coal Authority’s assurances as they actually under-write any insurance that is needed when properties blighted by mineshafts are being sold.

I have written again to a number of Building Societies and Banks in order to question their policy on this very important issues that is affecting a number of my constituents particularly those who live in the Darlaston and Moxley areas. However the problem is geographically greater than these two areas.”