Entry on land for purpose of exploration

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section and without prejudice to any other right of entry, a person authorized in writing by a licence holder may, at any reasonable time enter upon and survey any land for the purpose of ascertaining whether the land would be suitable for use for any purpose connected with the carrying on of the activities which the licence holder is authorized by his licence to carry on. (2) A person authorized to enter upon any land under this section shall not demand to do so as of right unless– (a) fourteen days notice of the intended entry has been given to the occupier; and (b) if required to do so, he has produced evidence of his authority. (3) The powers conferred by this section shall not be exercisable in relation to land which is covered by a building or will be so covered on the assumption that any planning permission which is in force is acted on. (4) The power to survey land conferred by this section includes power to search and bore for the purposes of ascertaining the nature of the subsoil; but works may not be carried out on the land for this purpose unless notice of the proposed works is included in the notice given under sub- section (2). (5) Where any person exercises any powers conferred by this section, the licence holder by whom he was authorized shall make good any damage done to the land. (6) In this section, “building” includes any garden, yard, outhouses and appurtenances belonging to or usually enjoyed with a building.