Article: Geotechnology and mining advice Article Body South Yorkshire Mining Advisory Service (SYMAS) is a small dedicated group of mining engineers/minerals surveyors who have accumulated a specialist working knowledge of mining legacy issues within South Yorkshire. Based within the Planning and Regulation service at Barnsley Council, we are a joint authority service funded by Rotherham, Doncaster and Barnsley councils. Our small team of staff have mining industry backgrounds and expertise and together with our extensive mining, geological and historic ordnance survey records we provide specialist advice and risk assessments regarding mining legacy issues. The team is consulted by a variety of council departments, planning officers and building control inspectors in the course of ensuring various regulations are applied to future development. Local Authorities also have duties under the Mines and Quarries tips act 1969 to prevent disused colliery spoil tips constituting a danger to members of the public. Land stability is a fundamental consideration during the planning process and in the enforcement of building regulations. Our aim is not to prevent development. Rather it is to ensure that development is suitable and that the physical constraints on the land are taken into account at all stages. Developers in coalfield areas should undertake thorough research and site investigations are often necessary. Building on areas undermined at shallow depth can be very expensive, particularly if remedial measures to shafts or shallow mine workings are necessary, or if special foundations are needed. For more information please contact: Principal Mining Engineer Phone: (01226) 772689 Email: symas@barnsley.gov.uk Related links " Coal Authority