Explanatory note

These Regulations amend—

(i) The Mines and Quarries Act 1954,

(ii) The Coal and Other Mines (Height of Travelling Roads) Regulations 1956,

(iii) The Coal and Other Mines (Ventilation) Regulations 1956, and

(iv) The Coal Mines (Clearances in Transport Roads) Regulations 1959,

by substituting for measurements expressed in imperial units, measurements expressed in metric units so as to preserve the effect of the various provisions except to the extent necessary to obtain amounts expressed in convenient and suitable terms.

In addition Regulation 2 of the Regulations amends section 87(2) of the Mines and Quarries Act so as to require fencing where a person is liable to fall 2 metres; hitherto the requirement to fence only had effect where a person was liable to fall 10 feet.

The amendments specified in Part II of Schedules 1, 2 and 3 do not apply to workings begun or stoppings constructed before the coming into force of the Regulations; in these cases imperial measurements continue to apply.