Legalize / United Kingdom / Public General Act

Water Resources Act 1991

Type Public General Act

Publication 1991-07-25

Last updated 2026-04-06

State In force

Department Statute Law Database

Source legislation.gov.uk

articles Not indexed

Reform history JSON API

(b) that, if he had carried out such alterations, the abstraction or, as the case may be, the obstruction or impeding of the flow of the inland waters authorised by the licence to which the action relates would not have derogated from his protected right for the purposes of that Chapter;

and subsection (3) of that section (liability of appropriate agency for compliance with direction requiring derogation from protected rights) shall not apply to a direction given in consequence of an appeal against the decision of the appropriate agency on an application for the grant of a 1989 Act licence of right.

(2) In this paragraph “permissible alterations”—

(a) in relation to a person who is the holder of a licence of right, means any alteration of works, or modification of machinery or apparatus, which would fulfil the requirements of the licence as to the means whereby water is authorised to be abstracted;

(b) in relation to a person who is not the holder of a licence of right, but to whose application for such a licence paragraph 1 above applies, means any alteration of works, or modification of machinery or apparatus, by means of which he abstracted water from the source of supply in question during the period of five years ending with 1st September 1989, being an alteration or modification which would be within the scope of the licence if granted in accordance with the application.

Section 61 of this Act

5

(1) No compensation shall be payable under section 61 of this Act (compensation for revocation or variation of a licence) in respect of the revocation or variation of a 1989 Act licence of right if the revocation or variation is for giving effect to the decision of the court in an action in respect of which paragraph 2 above has effect or in any proceedings in consequence of such an action.

(2) Nothing in section 61(3) of this Act (compensation not payable in respect of works etc. carried out before the grant of a licence) shall apply in relation to any licence of right.

Licences of right

6

(1) In this Schedule references to a licence of right are references to—

(a) any 1989 Act licence of right, that is to say, a licence granted (whether or not by virtue of paragraph 1 above) under paragraph 30 or 31 of Schedule 26 to the Water Act 1989; or

(b) any licence which, having been granted in pursuance of an application under section 33 of the Water Resources Act 1963 (or in pursuance of an appeal consequential on such an application), has effect after the coming into force of this Act by virtue of sub-paragraph (2) below.

(2) The repeal by the Water Consolidation (Consequential Provisions) Act 1991 of paragraph 29(4) of Schedule 26 to the Water Act 1989 shall not prevent any licence granted as mentioned in paragraph (b) of sub-paragraph (1) above from continuing (in accordance with paragraph 1 of Schedule 2 to that Act of 1991 and subject to the preceding provisions of this Schedule) to have effect after the coming into force of this Act as a licence under Chapter II of Part II of this Act.

SCHEDULE 8

1

(1) The applicant for a drought order shall—

(a) cause notice of the application to be served on the persons specified in the Table set out in sub-paragraph (2) below;

(b) cause a notice of the application to be published in one or more local newspapers circulating within the area affected by the order; and

(2) The said Table is as follows—

All orders	(a) The Agency (where it is not the applicant).aaThe NRBW (where it is not the applicant). (b) Every local authority (not being an English county council) and water undertaker (not being the applicant) whose area would be affected by the order.
Orders which suspend or modify any enactment or any order or scheme made or confirmed under any enactment.	Such persons (if any) as are specified by name in the enactment, order or scheme as being persons for whose protection it was enacted or made.
Orders concerning the taking of water from a source or the discharge of water or effluent to a place.	(a) Every local authority (not being an English county council) in whose area the source, or the place at which water or effluent is to be discharged, is situated.(b) Every drainage board for an internal district in which the source, or the place at which water or effluent is to be discharged, is situated.(c) Every navigation authority exercising functions over any watercourse affected by the order.(d) If the order concerns any environmental permit relating to the discharge of sewage effluent or trade effluent, the person to whom the environmental permit was given.
Orders which authorise the carrying out of any works.	(a) Every local authority (not being an English county council) within whose area the works are situated.(b) If the order authorises the carrying out of works in, under or over a watercourse, every drainage board for an internal drainage district within which the works, or any part of the works, are situated.
Orders which authorise the occupation and use of land.	Every owner, lessee and occupier of the land.
Orders which prohibit or limit the taking of water.	Every named person to whom the prohibition or limitation applies.

(3) A notice for the purposes of this paragraph of an application for a drought order—

(a) shall state the general effect of the application;

(b) shall specify a place within the area affected by the order where a copy of any relevant map or plan may be inspected by any person free of charge at all reasonable times within a period of seven days from the date on which it is served or, as the case may be, published;

(c) shall state that objections to the application may be made to the Secretary of State within seven days from the date on which it is served or, as the case may be, published; and

(d) in the case of an application for an order authorising the occupation and use of land, shall specify the land to which the application relates.

(4) A notice sent in a letter in pursuance of section 220 of this Act to an address to which it may be sent in pursuance of that section shall not be treated as having been properly served for the purposes of this paragraph unless the sender takes such steps as are for the time being required to secure that the letter is transmitted in priority to letters of other descriptions.

Objections to and making of orders

2

(1) If any objection is duly made with respect to an application for a drought order and is not withdrawn, then, subject to the provisions of this paragraph, the Secretary of State shall, before making the order, either—

(a) cause a local inquiry to be held; or

(b) afford an opportunity—

(i) to the objector; and

(ii) if the objector avails himself of the opportunity, to the applicant and to any other persons to whom it appears to the Secretary of State expedient to afford the opportunity,

of appearing before and being heard by a person appointed by the Secretary of State for the purpose.

(2) Subject to sub-paragraph (3) below, where, on an application for a drought order, it appears to the Secretary of State that a drought order is required to be made urgently if it is to enable the deficiency of supplies of water to be effectively met, he may direct that the requirements of sub-paragraph (1) above shall be dispensed with in relation to the application.

(3) Nothing in sub-paragraph (2) above shall authorise the Secretary of State to fail to consider any objection to a proposed drought order which has been duly made and not withdrawn.

(4) Notwithstanding anything in sub-paragraph (1) above, the Secretary of State may—

(a) require any person who has made an objection to a proposed drought order to state in writing the grounds of his objection; and

(b) disregard the objection for the purposes of this paragraph if the Secretary of State is satisfied—

(i) that the objection relates exclusively to matters which can be dealt with on a reference under Schedule 9 to this Act or by any person by whom compensation is to be assessed; or

(ii) in a case where the order is one confined to the extension of a period specified in a previous order, that the objection is one that has in substance been made with respect to the application for that previous order.

(5) Subject to the requirements of this paragraph, the Secretary of State, upon being satisfied that the proper notices have been published and served, may, if he thinks fit, make the order in respect of which the application is made with or without modifications.

(6) The Secretary of State may hold a local inquiry on any application for a drought order notwithstanding that he is not required to do so by this paragraph.

(7) For the purposes of subsection (2) of section 53 of the 1995 Act (which applies subsections (2) to (5) of section 250 of the Local Government Act 1972 to inquiries in connection with functions of or in relation to the Agency or in connection with relevant environmental functions of or in relation to the NRBW) as modified by subsection (4) of that section, a local inquiry held under this paragraph with respect to an application by a water undertaker for a drought order, if it would not otherwise fall within paragraph (a) or (b) of that subsection, is to be treated as one which falls within paragraph (b).

Notice after making of order

3

After a drought order has been made, the person on whose application it was made shall cause to be published (in the manner in which notice of the application was required under paragraph 1 above to be published) a notice—

(a) stating that the order has been made; and

(b) naming a place where a copy of it may be inspected.

SCHEDULE 9

Compensation to be made in the case of all drought orders

1

Where a drought order has been made, compensation in respect of the entry upon or occupation or use of land shall be made by the applicant for the order to—

(a) the owners and occupiers of the land; and

(b) all other persons interested in the land or injuriously affected by the entry upon, occupation or use of the land,

for loss or damage sustained by reason of the entry upon, occupation or use of the land.

Compensation to be made in the case of ordinary orders only

2

(1) This paragraph shall apply for determining the compensation to be made, in addition to any made under paragraph 1 above, where an ordinary drought order has been made.

(2) Compensation in respect of the taking of water from a source or its taking from a source otherwise than in accordance with a restriction or obligation which has been suspended or modified shall be made by the applicant for the order to—

(a) the owners of the source of water; and

(b) all other persons interested in the source of water or injuriously affected by the taking of the water,

for loss or damage sustained by reason of the taking of the water.

(3) Compensation in respect of water’s being discharged or not discharged to any place or its being discharged otherwise than in accordance with a restriction or obligation (whether relating to the treatment or discharge of the water) which has been suspended or modified shall be made by the applicant for the order to—

(a) the owners of the place of discharge; and

(b) all other persons interested in the place of discharge or injuriously affected by the discharge or lack of discharge,

for loss or damage sustained by reason of the water being discharged or not discharged or being discharged otherwise than in accordance with the restriction or obligation.

(4) Compensation in respect of the imposition of a prohibition or limitation on the taking of water from a source shall be made by the applicant for the order, to any persons to whom the prohibition or limitation applies, for loss or damage sustained by reason of the prohibition or limitation.

(5) Compensation in respect of a power to make discharges of sewage effluent or trade effluent in pursuance of any environmental permit shall be made by the applicant for the order, to any person who has been exercising that power, for loss or damage sustained by reason of the suspension or variation of the environmental permit or the attachment of conditions to the environmental permit.

Claims for compensation: general

3

(1) A claim for compensation under this Schedule shall be made by serving upon the applicant a notice stating the grounds of the claim and the amount claimed.

(2) Any question as to the right of a claimant to recover compensation, or as to the amount of compensation recoverable, shall, in default of agreement, be referred to, and determined by, the Upper Tribunal .

Claims for compensation under paragraph 2

4

(1) A claim for compensation under paragraph 2 above may be made at any time not later than six months after the end of the period for which the order authorises, as the case may be—

(a) the taking or discharge of water;

(b) the imposition of a prohibition or limitation on the taking of water;

(d) the suspension or variation of, or attachment of conditions to, any environmental permit relating to the discharge of sewage effluent or trade effluent.

(2) Where a claim for compensation under paragraph 2 above is made during the continuance of the ordinary drought order, the Upper Tribunal may, if it thinks fit, award a sum representing the loss or damage which is likely to be sustained by the claimant in respect of each day on which, as the case may be—

(a) water is taken or discharged;

(b) water is not discharged or is discharged otherwise than in accordance with an obligation or restriction; or

(c) sewage effluent or trade effluent is discharged otherwise than in accordance with an environmental permit originally given.

(3) In assessing the compensation to be made under paragraph 2(2) above the Upper Tribunal may, if it thinks fit, have regard to the amount of water which, on an equitable apportionment of the water available from the source between the claimant, the applicant and other persons taking water from the source, may fairly be apportioned to the claimant.

(4) In assessing the compensation to be made under paragraph 2(3) above in respect of the lack of discharge of compensation water, the Upper Tribunal may, if it thinks fit, have regard to the amount of water which, under the conditions existing by reason of the shortage of rain, would have been available to the claimant during the period during which the deficiency of supplies of water is continued, if the applicant in relation to whom the obligation was imposed had never carried on its undertaking.

(5) In sub-paragraph (4) above “compensation water” has the same meaning as in section 77 of this Act.

Schedule 10

Applications for consents

1

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Consideration and determination of applications

2

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3

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Reference to Secretary of State of certain applications forconsent

4

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Consents without applications

5

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Revocation of consents and alteration and imposition of conditions

6

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7

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SCHEDULE 11

Applications for orders

1

(1) Where the appropriate agency applies to the Secretary of State for an order under section 93 of this Act, it shall—

(a) submit to the Secretary of State a draft of the order applied for;

(b) publish a notice with respect to the application, at least once in each of two successive weeks, in one or more newspapers circulating in the locality proposed to be designated as a water protection zone by the order;

(c) not later than the date on which that notice is first published serve a copy of the notice on every local authority and water undertaker whose area includes the whole or any part of that locality; and

(d) publish a notice in the London Gazette which-

(i) states that the draft order has been submitted to the Secretary of State;

(ii) names every local authority on whom a notice is required to be served under this paragraph;

(iii) specifies a place where a copy of the draft order and of any relevant map or plan may be inspected; and

(iv) gives the name of every newspaper in which the notice required by virtue of paragraph (b) above was published and the date of an issue containing the notice.

(2) The notice required by virtue of sub-paragraph (1)(b) above to be published with respect to an application for an order shall—

(a) state the general effect of the order applied for;

(b) specify a place where a copy of the draft order and of any relevant map or plan may be inspected by any person free of charge at all reasonable times during the period of twenty-eight days beginning with the date of the first publication of the notice; and

(c) state that any person may, within that period, by notice to the Secretary of State object to the making of the order.

Supply of copies of draft orders

2

Where the appropriate agency has applied for an order under section 93 of this Act, it shall, at the request of any person and on payment by that person of such charge (if any) as the appropriate agency may reasonably require, furnish that person with a copy of the draft order submitted to the Secretary of State under paragraph 1 above.

Modifications of proposals

3

(1) On an application for an order under section 93 of this Act, the Secretary of State may make the order either in the terms of the draft order submitted to him or, subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, in those terms as modified in such manner as he thinks fit, or may refuse to make an order.

(2) The Secretary of State shall not make such a modification of a draft order submitted to him as he considers is likely adversely to affect any persons unless he is satisfied that the appropriate agency has given and published such additional notices, in such manner, as the Secretary of State may have required.

(3) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) above and to the service of notices of the proposed modification on such local authorities as appear to him to be likely to be interested in it, the modifications that may be made by the Secretary of State of any draft order include any modification of the area designated by the draft order as a water protection zone.

Consideration of objections etc.

4

Without prejudice to section 53 of the 1995 Act (inquiries and other hearings), where an application for an order under section 93 of this Act has been made, the Secretary of State may, if he considers it appropriate to do so, hold a local inquiry before making any order on the application.

SCHEDULE 12

Part I — APPLICATIONS BY THE AGENCY FOR DESIGNATIONS ORDERS

Orders made only on application

1

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Procedure for applications

2

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Part II — ORDERS CONTAINING MANDATORY PROVISIONS

Publication of proposal for order containing mandatory provisions

3

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Supply of copies of proposed orders

4

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Modifications of proposals

5

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Consideration of objections et ceteralaetc.

6

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7

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SCHEDULE 13

Transitional power to transfer power of determination with respect to water pollution matters to the Agency

1

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Order under section 32(3) of the 1974 Act

2

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Pre-1989 transitional provisions

3

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Discharge consents on application of undertakers et ceteralaetc.

4

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SCHEDULE 14

Procedure on application for order

1

As soon as any scheme under section 108 of this Act has been submitted to one of the Ministers, the appropriate agency shall—

(a) send copies of the scheme to every internal drainage board, local authority, navigation authority, harbour authority and conservancy authority affected by it; and

(b) publish, in one or more newspapers circulating in the area affected by the scheme, a notice stating—

(i) that the scheme has been submitted to that Minister;

(ii) that a copy of it is open to inspection at a specified place; and

(iii) that representations with respect to the scheme may be made to that Minister at any time within one month after the publication of the notice.

Order making procedure etc.

2

(1) Before either of the Ministers makes an order under section 108 of this Act, he shall cause notice of—

(a) the intention to make it;

(b) the place where copies of the draft order may be inspected and obtained; and

to be published in the London Gazette and in such other manner as he thinks best adapted for informing persons affected and to be sent to the persons specified in sub-paragraph (2) below.

(2) The persons referred to in sub-paragraph (1) above are—

(a) every county council , county borough council or London borough council in whose area any part of the area proposed to be affected by the order is situated and, if any part of that area is situated in the City of London, the Common Council of the City of London;

(b) the appropriate agency and every drainage body, navigation authority, harbour authority or conservancy authority that is known to the Minister in question to be exercising jurisdiction within the area proposed to be affected by the order.

(3) In sub-paragraph (2) above “drainage body” has the same meaning as in section 108 of this Act.

Determination of whether to make order

3

(1) Before either of the Ministers makes an order under section 108 of this Act he—

(a) shall consider any objections duly made to the draft order; and

(b) may, in any case, cause a public local inquiry to be held with respect to any objections to the draft order.

(2) Each of the Ministers may, in making an order under section 108 of this Act, make such modifications in the terms of the draft as appear to him to be desirable and may confirm the scheme to which the order relates either with or without modifications.

Notice of orders

4

As soon as may be after an order under section 108 of this Act has effect one of the Ministers shall publish in the London Gazette, and in such other manner as he thinks best adapted for informing persons affected, a notice—

(a) stating that the order has come into force; and

(b) naming a place where a copy of it may be seen at all reasonable hours.

Challenge to orders

5

(1) If any person aggrieved by an order under section 108 of this Act desires to question its validity on the ground—

(a) that it is not within the powers of this Act; or

(b) that any requirement of this Act has not been complied with,

he may, within six weeks of the date of the publication of the notice mentioned in paragraph 4 above, make an application for the purpose to the High Court.

(2) Where an application is duly made to the High Court under this paragraph, the High Court, if satisfied—

(a) that the order is not within the powers of this Act; or

(b) that the interests of the applicant have been substantially prejudiced by any requirements of this Act not having been complied with,

may quash the order either generally or in so far as it affects the applicant.

(3) Except by leave of the Court of Appeal, no appeal shall lie to the Supreme Court from a decision of the Court of Appeal in proceedings under this paragraph.

(4) Subject to the preceding provisions of this paragraph an order under section 108 of this Act shall not at any time be questioned in any legal proceedings whatsoever.

Power to make regulations for purposes of Schedule etc.

6

The Ministers may make regulations in relation to—

(a) the publication of notices under paragraph 2 or 4 above;

(b) the holding of public local inquiries under this Schedule and procedure at those inquiries; and

SCHEDULE 15

Raising of drainage charge

1

(1) A drainage charge—

(a) shall be raised by the appropriate agency in writing under the common seal of the appropriate agency; and

(b) shall be deemed to be raised on the date on which a resolution is passed by the appropriate agency authorising their seal to be affixed to the charge.

(2) Every drainage charge shall be raised for a year ending on 31st March and shall be raised before or during the year for which it is raised.

(3) Without prejudice to their powers by virtue of section 112 of this Act, the Ministers shall each have power by regulations to prescribe the forms of drainage charges and of demands for drainage charges.

Publication of drainage charge

2

(1) A drainage charge shall not be valid unless notice of the charge is given by the appropriate agency in accordance with sub-paragraph (2) below within ten days of the date on which it is raised.

(2) The notice must—

(a) state the amount of the charge and the date on which it was raised; and

(b) be published in one or more newspapers circulating in the area in respect of which the charge was raised.

Occupiers liable for drainage charge

3

(1) Subject to paragraphs 4 and 5 below—

(a) drainage charges shall be levied on the occupiers of chargeable land in the flood risk management region or, as the case may be, the designated area; and

(b) sub-paragraphs (2) to (4) below shall have effect with respect to the assessment of persons to a drainage charge with respect to any land (“the relevant land") and their liability in regard to the charge.

(2) A drainage charge shall be assessed on the person who at the date of the raising of the charge is the occupier of the relevant land.

(3) The full amount of a drainage charge may be recovered by the appropriate agency from any person who is the occupier of the relevant land at any time during the period for which the charge is raised; but a person who is in occupation of the relevant land for part only of the period for which the charge is raised shall be liable, by virtue of sub-paragraph (4) below, to bear a proportionate part only of the charge.

(4) If a person who is in occupation of the relevant land for part only of a period for which a drainage charge is raised is required under sub-paragraph (3) above to pay the full amount of the charge, he may (subject to any agreement to the contrary) recover, from any other person who has been in occupation of the land for part of that period, the amount which that other person is liable to bear.

Cases where identity of occupiers in doubt

4

(1) The appropriate agency may serve on the owner of any land a notice requiring him to state in writing the name and address of any person known to him as being an occupier of that land.

(2) The owner of any land shall be guilty of an offence if—

(a) he fails without reasonable excuse to comply with a notice under sub-paragraph (1) above;

(b) he makes any statement in respect of the information required by such a notice which he knows to be false in a material particular; or

(c) he recklessly makes any statement in respect of the information required by such a notice which is false in a material particular.

(3) A person guilty of an offence under sub-paragraph (2) above shall be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale; and a person convicted by virtue of paragraph (a) of that sub-paragraph shall be liable to a further conviction by virtue of that paragraph if, after conviction, he continues without reasonable excuse to fail to comply with the notice in question.

(4) Where the name of any person liable to be assessed to any drainage charge is not known to the appropriate agency, it shall be sufficient to assess him to the charge by the description of the “occupier” of the premises (naming them) in respect of which the assessment is made, without further name or description.

(5) For the purposes of this Schedule the owner of any land shall be deemed to be its occupier during any period during which it is unoccupied.

(6) Sub-paragraphs (1) to (3) above shall be without prejudice to the provisions of Part VIII of this Act.

Arrangements for owner of land to pay drainage charge

5

(1) Subject to paragraph 6 below, the appropriate agency may make arrangements with the owner of any chargeable land for any drainage charges which may be raised by the appropriate agency for any period in respect of the land to be levied on the owner, instead of on the occupier of the land.

(2) Where arrangements under this paragraph are made—

(a) the charges in question shall be levied on the owner, instead of on the occupier; and

(b) any reference to an occupier in the provisions of this Schedule (except in this paragraph and paragraph 6 below) shall be construed accordingly.

(3) Subject to sub-paragraph (4) below, where in pursuance of any arrangements under this paragraph the owner of any land pays drainage charges in respect of the land to the appropriate agency either—

(a) before the end of the period of two months beginning with the date of the service on him of the demand for the charges; or

(b) before the end of one-half of the period for which the charges are raised,

the appropriate agency shall make to him an allowance equal to ten per cent. of the full amount of the charges.

(4) No allowance shall be made under sub-paragraph (3) above in respect of charges which, apart from this paragraph, are payable for any period by the owner in pursuance of paragraph 4(5) above.

(5) Where arrangements are made under this paragraph, it shall be the duty of the appropriate agency to give notice of the arrangements, forthwith after they are made, to the occupier of the land affected by them.

(6) The owner of any land who is a party to any arrangements under this paragraph in respect of the land may recover from the occupier of the land a sum equal to the amount of any drainage charges in respect of the land which, apart from the arrangements, would be payable by the occupier.

Power of occupier to prevent arrangements under paragraph 5

6

(1) The occupier of any chargeable land may, by notice given to the appropriate agency, determine—

(a) that no arrangements under paragraph 5 above shall be made in respect of the land; and

(b) that any such arrangements previously made shall cease to have effect so far as they relate to the land and any drainage charge to be raised for a period beginning after the date on which the notice takes effect;

and may, by a notice so given, revoke any determination under this sub-paragraph so far as it prohibits the making of any such arrangements in respect of the land.

(2) A notice under sub-paragraph (1) above shall take effect on the day following that on which it is given to the appropriate agency.

(3) Where notice is given to the appropriate agency under sub-paragraph (1) above, it shall be the duty of the appropriate agency to send a copy of the notice to the owner of the land to which it relates.

Assessment of chargeable land to drainage charge

7

(1) Where land is chargeable land during part only of the year for which a drainage charge is raised, a proportionate part only of the charge shall be payable in respect of that land; and any amount overpaid shall be repaid.

(2) Where the area of chargeable land in respect of which, apart from this sub-paragraph, a sum is payable by any person by way of a drainage charge consists of or includes a fraction of a hectare, then for the purpose of calculating that sum the fraction shall be disregarded if it is less than one-half and treated as one hectare in any other case.

Partial exemption of commercial woodlands

8

(1) The sum payable by way of a drainage charge in respect of chargeable land consisting of commercial woodlands shall be calculated as if the area of the land were one-fifth of its actual area.

(2) In the application of paragraph 7(2) above to chargeable land to which sub-paragraph (1) above applies the area ascertained in pursuance of sub-paragraph (1) above (and not the area of which it is one-fifth) shall be treated as the area in relation to which paragraph 7(2) above has effect.

Returns with respect to land

9

(1) The appropriate agency may serve on any person appearing to it to be the occupier of any land a notice requiring him to furnish a return under sub-paragraph (2) below to the appropriate agency within twenty-eight days beginning with the date of service of the notice on him.

(2) The return required of a person by a notice under sub-paragraph (1) above is a return, in writing and in such form as may be specified in the notice, containing such particulars as may reasonably be required for the purpose of enabling the appropriate agency to determine—

(a) how much (if any) of the land occupied by that person is chargeable land; and

(b) how much (if any) consists of commercial woodlands.

(3) If any person on whom notice has been served under sub-paragraph (1) above—

(a) fails without reasonable excuse to comply with the notice;

(b) in a return made in pursuance of such a notice, makes any statement which he knows to be false in a material particular; or

he shall be guilty of an offence

(4) A person guilty of an offence under sub-paragraph (3) above shall be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale; and a person convicted by virtue of paragraph (a) of that sub-paragraph shall be liable to a further conviction by virtue of that paragraph if, after conviction, he continues without reasonable excuse to fail to comply with the notice in question.

(5) This paragraph shall be without prejudice to the provisions of Part VIII of this Act.

Power to correct erroneous assessments etc.

10

(1) The appropriate agency may, as respects any drainage charge raised by it for the current or the preceding year, make such amendments in any demands or other documents relating to the charge as appear to the appropriate agency necessary in order to make the raising, levying and collection of the charge conform with this Act.

(2) In particular, the appropriate agency may—

(a) correct any clerical or arithmetical error;

(b) correct any erroneous insertions or omissions or any misdescriptions;

(c) make such additions or corrections as appear to the appropriate agency to be necessary by reason of any change in the occupation of any chargeable land or any property ceasing to be chargeable land.

(3) The appropriate agency shall serve a notice of any amendment made by the appropriate agency in pursuance of this paragraph on the occupier of all land affected thereby.

(4) Where an amendment is made in pursuance of this paragraph—

(a) any amount overpaid shall be repaid or allowed; and

(b) any amount underpaid may be recovered as if it were arrears of the charge.

Appeals against demands for drainage charges

11

(1) If any person is aggrieved by—

(a) a demand for a drainage charge made on him as the occupier of chargeable land; or

(b) an amendment of such a demand,

he may appeal to the county court ... .

(2) Notice of appeal under this paragraph, specifying the grounds of appeal, must be given within the required period—

(a) to the court to which the appeal is made;

(b) to the appropriate agency; and

(3) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (2) above the required period is twenty-eight days after the date on which the demand is made or, as the case may be, notice of the amendment is served on the appellant.

(4) On an appeal under this paragraph the court shall, as it thinks just, either confirm the demand or annul or modify it.

Recovery of drainage charges

12

(1) Arrears of any drainage charge may be recovered by the appropriate agency in the same manner in which arrears of a non-domestic rate may be recovered under the Local Government Finance Act 1988 by a billing authority within the meaning of that Act.

(2) Without prejudice to its powers by virtue of section 37 of, and paragraph 6 of Schedule 1 to, the 1995 Act, the appropriate agency may by resolution authorise any member or officer of the appropriate agency, either generally or in respect of particular proceedings—

(a) to institute or defend on its behalf any proceedings in relation to a drainage charge; or

(b) notwithstanding that he is not qualified to act as a solicitor, to appear on the appropriate agency's behalf in any proceedings before a magistrates’ court for the issue of a warrant of control for failure to pay a drainage charge.

(3) In proceedings for the recovery of arrears of a drainage charge the defendant shall not be entitled to raise by way of defence any matter which might have been raised on an appeal under paragraph 11 above.

(4) The appropriate agency shall not be required to demand or enforce payment of a drainage charge in any case where the amount of the charge is insufficient to justify the expense of collection.

Use of certain authorities as agents for assessment, collection etc. of drainage charges

13

(1) The appropriate agency and any relevant authority may enter into agreements for—

(a) the doing by the relevant authority, as agents of the appropriate agency, of anything required for the purpose of the assessment to and recovery of a drainage charge in respect of any relevant land; and

(b) the making by the appropriate agency to the relevant authority of payments in respect of anything so done.

(2) The appropriate agency may make arrangements with either of the Ministers for the exercise by him on behalf of the appropriate agency, in such cases as may be determined in pursuance of the arrangements, of the powers conferred on the appropriate agency by paragraph 9 above.

(3) Any arrangements under sub-paragraph (2) above shall contain provision for the reimbursement by the appropriate agency of any expenses incurred by the Minister in question in pursuance of the arrangements.

(4) In this paragraph—

“relevant authority” means the council of any district or London borough or Welsh county or county boroughor any internal drainage board; and

“relevant land”, in relation to an agreement with any relevant authority, means—

(a) where the relevant authority is a district or London borough or Welsh county or county boroughcouncil, the chargeable land within the council’s area; and

(b) where the relevant authority is an internal drainage board, such land as may be specified in the agreement.

SCHEDULE 16

Submission of scheme

1

(1) Before submitting a special charges scheme to either of the Ministers, the appropriate agency shall consult organisations appearing to it to represent the interests of persons engaged in agriculture in the area designated in the scheme.

(2) As soon as any special charges scheme has been submitted to either of the Ministers, the appropriate agency shall—

(a) send copies of the scheme to—

(i) the council of any county, county boroughdistrict or London borough wholly or partly within the relevant area;

(ii) the drainage board for any internal drainage district within the relevant area; and

(iii) every organisation appearing to the appropriate agency to represent the interests of persons engaged in agriculture in the relevant area;

and

(b) publish, in one or more newspapers circulating in the area affected by the scheme, a notice stating—

(i) that the scheme has been submitted to that Minister;

(ii) that a copy of it is open to inspection at a specified place; and

(iii) that representations with respect to the scheme may be made to that Minister at any time within one month after the publication of the notice.

(3) Where the appropriate agency submit a special charges scheme which designates any watercourse wholly or partly within an internal drainage district, then (unless the appropriate agency is the drainage board for that district) the scheme must be accompanied either—

(a) by a statement of the drainage board for that district that they have consented to the designation; or

(b) by a statement that they have not consented thereto and a further statement setting out the reasons why the watercourse should nevertheless be designated for the purposes of section 137 of this Act.

(4) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (2) above “the relevant area” is the area designated in the scheme.

Confirmation of scheme

2

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this Schedule the Minister to whom a special charges scheme has been submitted may by order made by statutory instrument confirm the scheme either with or without modifications.

(2) Neither of the Ministers shall confirm a special charges scheme unless he is satisfied that the scheme is reasonable and financially sound, having regard to all the circumstances, and in particular to any contributions from local authorities and internal drainage boards which, if the scheme is confirmed, are likely to be available to the appropriate agency in addition to the special drainage charge authorised by the scheme.

(3) An order confirming a special charges scheme may contain provisions with respect to the persons by whom all or any of the expenses incurred by either of the Ministers or by other persons in connection with the making or confirmation of the order, or the making of the scheme, are to be borne.

Notice of proposed order

3

(1) Before either of the Ministers makes an order confirming a special charges scheme he shall cause notice of—

(a) the intention to make it;

(b) the place where copies of the draft order may be inspected and obtained; and

to be published in the London Gazette and in such other manner as he thinks best adapted for informing persons affected and to be sent to the persons specified in sub-paragraph (2) below.

(2) The persons referred to in sub-paragraph (1) above are—

(a) every county council , county borough council or London borough council in whose area any part of the area proposed to be affected by the order is situated and, if any part of that area is situated in the City of London, the Common Council of the City of London; and

(b) the appropriate agency and every drainage body, navigation authority, harbour authority or conservancy authority that is known to the Minister in question to be exercising jurisdiction within the area proposed to be affected by the order.

(3) In sub-paragraph (2) above “drainage body” has the same meaning as in section 108 of this Act.

Determination of whether to make order

4

(1) Before either of the Ministers makes an order confirming a special charges scheme, he—

(a) shall consider any objections duly made to the draft order; and

(b) may, in any case, cause a public local inquiry to be held with respect to any objections to the draft order.

(2) Each of the Ministers shall have power, in making an order confirming a special charges scheme, to make such modifications in the terms of the draft as appear to him to be desirable.

Procedure and other matters after the making of an order

5

(1) After either of the Ministers has made an order confirming a special charges scheme, the order (together with a notice under sub-paragraph (2) below) shall be published in such manner as he thinks best adapted for informing the persons affected.

(2) A notice under this sub-paragraph is a notice—

(a) that the Minister in question has made the order; and

(b) that the order will become final and have effect unless, within such period of not less than thirty days as may be specified in the notice, a memorial praying that the order shall be subject to special parliamentary procedure is presented to that Minister, by a person who is affected by the order and has such interest as may be prescribed by regulations made by one of the Ministers as being sufficient for the purpose.

Orders subject to special parliamentary procedure

6

(1) If—

(a) no such memorial as is mentioned in paragraph 5(2) above has been presented within the period so mentioned in respect of any order confirming a special charges scheme; or

(b) every such memorial has been withdrawn,

the Minister who made the order shall confirm the order and it shall thereupon have effect.

(2) If such a memorial has been presented in respect of such an order and has not been withdrawn, the order shall be subject to special parliamentary procedure.

(3) An order confirming a special charges scheme shall in any event be subject to special parliamentary procedure if the Minister who makes the order so directs.

(4) The Minister who makes an order confirming a special charges scheme may, at any time before it has been laid before Parliament, revoke, either wholly or partially, any order that is subject to special parliamentary procedure.

Notice of unconfirmed orders

7

As soon as may be after an unconfirmed order has effect, the Minister who made the order shall publish in the London Gazette, and in such other manner as he thinks best adapted for informing persons affected, a notice—

(a) stating that the order has come into force; and

(b) naming a place where a copy of it may be seen at all reasonable hours.

Challenge to unconfirmed orders

8

(1) If any person aggrieved by an unconfirmed order desires to question its validity on the ground—

(a) that it is not within the powers of this Act; or

(b) that any requirement of this Act has not been complied with,

he may, within six weeks of the relevant date, make an application for the purpose to the High Court.

(2) Where an application is duly made to the High Court under this paragraph, the High Court, if satisfied—

(a) that the order is not within the powers of this Act; or

(b) that the interests of the applicant have been substantially prejudiced by any requirements of this Act not having been complied with,

may quash the order either generally or in so far as it affects the applicant.

(3) Except by leave of the Court of Appeal, no appeal shall lie to the Supreme Court from a decision of the Court of Appeal in proceedings under this paragraph.

(4) Subject to the preceding provisions of this paragraph an unconfirmed order shall not at any time be questioned in any legal proceedings whatsoever.

(5) In this paragraph “the relevant date”, in relation to an order, means—

(a) where the order is subject to special parliamentary procedure, the date on which the order becomes operative under the Statutory Orders (Special Procedure) Act 1945;

(b) where the order is not subject to special parliamentary procedure, the date of the publication of the notice mentioned in paragraph 7 above.

Power to make regulations for purposes of Schedule

9

The Ministers may make regulations in relation to—

(a) the publication of notices under this Schedule;

(b) the holding of public local inquiries under this Schedule and procedure at those inquiries; and

Interpretation

10

(1) In this Schedule—

“special charges scheme” means a scheme under section 137 of this Act; and

“unconfirmed order” means an order confirming a special charges scheme, other than one which is itself confirmed under section 6 of the Statutory Orders (Special Procedure) Act 1945.

(2) Section 113 of this Act shall apply for the interpretation of this Schedule as it applies for the interpretation of Part IV of this Act.

SCHEDULE 17

Orders to be made by statutory instrument

1

The power to make an order under section 143 of this Act shall be exercisable by statutory instrument.

Inquiries

2

(1) The Secretary of State may hold inquiries for the purposes of section 143 of this Act as if those purposes were purposes of the Ministry of Transport Act 1919; and section 20 of that Act (power to hold inquiries) shall have effect accordingly.

(2) The Secretary of State may make such order as to the payment of costs incurred by him in connection with any such inquiry as he may think just.

Notice of order

3

(1) After the Secretary of State has made an order under section 143 of this Act, the order, together with a notice under sub-paragraph (2) below, shall be published in such manner as he thinks best adapted for informing the persons affected.

(2) A notice under this sub-paragraph is a notice—

(a) that the Secretary of State has made the order; and

(b) that the order will become final and have effect unless, within such period of not less than thirty days as may be specified in the notice, a memorial praying that the order shall be subject to special parliamentary procedure is presented to the Secretary of State, by a person who is affected by the order and has such an interest as may be prescribed as being sufficient for the purpose.

Orders subject to special parliamentary procedure

4

(1) If—

(a) no such memorial as is mentioned in paragraph 3(2) above has been presented within the period so mentioned in respect of any order under section 143 of this Act; or

(b) every such memorial has been withdrawn,

the Secretary of State shall confirm the order and it shall thereupon have effect.

(2) If such a memorial has been presented in respect of such an order and has not been withdrawn, the order shall be subject to special parliamentary procedure.

(3) An order under section 143 of this Act shall, in any event, be subject to special parliamentary procedure if the Secretary of State so directs.

(4) The Secretary of State may, at any time before it has been laid before Parliament, revoke, either wholly or partially, any order under section 143 of this Act that is subject to special parliamentary procedure.

SCHEDULE 18

Compensation enactments

1

Subject to the following provisions of this Schedule, the enactments for the time being in force with respect to compensation for the compulsory purchase of land shall apply with the necessary modifications as respects compensation in the case of a compulsory acquisition under section 154 of this Act of a right by the creation of a new right as they apply as respects compensation on the compulsory purchase of land and interests in land.

Adaptation of the Compulsory Purchase Act 1965

56

The Compulsory Purchase Act 1965 (in the following provisions of this Schedule referred to as “the 1965 Act”) shall have effect with the modifications necessary to make it apply to the compulsory acquisition under section 154 of this Act of a right by the creation of a new right as it applies to the compulsory acquisition under that section of land, so that, in appropriate contexts, references in that Act to land are to be read (according to the requirements of the particular context) as referring to, or as including references to—

(a) the right acquired or to be acquired; or

(b) the land over which the right is or is to be exercisable.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of sub-paragraph (1) above, Part I of the 1965 Act shall apply in relation to the compulsory acquisition under section 154 of this Act of a right by the creation of a new right with the modifications specified in the following provisions of this Schedule.

Section 7 of the 1965 Act

3

For section 7 of the 1965 Act (measure of compensation) there shall be substituted the following section—

(7) In assessing the compensation to be paid by the acquiring authority under this Act regard shall be had not only to the extent (if any) to which the value of the land over which the right is to be acquired is depreciated by the acquisition of the right but also to the damage (if any) to be sustained by the owner of the land by reason of its severance from other land of his, or injuriously affecting that other land by the exercise of the powers conferred by this or the special Act.

Section 8 of the 1965 Act

4

Section 8(1) of the Compulsory Purchase Act 1965 has effect as if references to acquiring land were to acquiring a right in the land, and Schedule 2A to that Act is to be read as if, for that Schedule, there were substituted—

SCHEDULE 2A (1) (1) This Schedule applies where an acquiring authority serve a notice to treat in respect of a right over the whole or part of a house, building or factory. (2) But see section 2A of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 (under which a compulsory purchase order can exclude from this Schedule land that is 9 metres or more below the surface). (2) In this Schedule “house” includes any park or garden belonging to a house. (3) A person who is able to sell the house, building or factory (“the owner”) may serve a counter-notice requiring the authority to purchase the owner's interest in the house, building or factory. (4) A counter-notice under paragraph 3 must be served within the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which the notice to treat was served. (5) On receiving a counter-notice the acquiring authority must decide whether to— (a) withdraw the notice to treat, (b) accept the counter-notice, or (c) refer the counter-notice to the Upper Tribunal. (6) The authority must serve notice of their decision on the owner within the period of 3 months beginning with the day on which the counter-notice is served (“the decision period”). (7) If the authority decide to refer the counter-notice to the Upper Tribunal they must do so within the decision period. (8) If the authority do not serve notice of a decision within the decision period they are to be treated as if they had served notice of a decision to withdraw the notice to treat at the end of that period. (9) If the authority serve notice of a decision to accept the counter-notice, the compulsory purchase order and the notice to treat are to have effect as if they included the owner's interest in the house, building or factory. (10) On a referral under paragraph 7 the Upper Tribunal must determine whether the acquisition of the right would— (a) in the case of a house, building or factory, cause material detriment to the house, building or factory, or (b) in the case of a park or garden, seriously affect the amenity or convenience of the house to which the park or garden belongs. (11) In making its determination, the Upper Tribunal must take into account— (a) the effect of the acquisition of the right, (b) the proposed use of the right, and (c) if the right is proposed to be acquired for works or other purposes extending to other land, the effect of the whole of the works and the use of the other land. (12) If the Upper Tribunal determines that the acquisition of the right would have either of the consequences described in paragraph 10 it must determine how much of the house, building or factory the authority ought to be required to take. (13) If the Upper Tribunal determines that the authority ought to be required to take some or all of the house, building or factory the compulsory purchase order and the notice to treat are to have effect as if they included the owner's interest in that land. (14) (1) If the Upper Tribunal determines that the authority ought to be required to take some or all of the house, building or factory, the authority may at any time within the period of 6 weeks beginning with the day on which the Upper Tribunal makes its determination withdraw the notice to treat in relation to that land. (2) If the acquiring authority withdraws the notice to treat under this paragraph they must pay the person on whom the notice was served compensation for any loss or expense caused by the giving and withdrawal of the notice. (3) Any dispute as to the compensation is to be determined by the Upper Tribunal.

Effect of deed poll

5

The following provisions of the 1965 Act (being provisions stating the effect of a deed poll executed in various circumstances where there is no conveyance by persons with interests in the land), that is to say—

(a) section 9(4) (refusal by owners to convey);

(b) paragraph 10(3) of Schedule 1 (owners under incapacity);

(d) paragraphs 2(3) and 7(2) of Schedule 4 (common land),

shall be so modified as to secure that, as against persons with interests in the land which are expressed to be overridden by the deed, the right which is to be compulsorily acquired is vested absolutely in the acquiring authority.

Section 11 of the 1965 Act

6

Section 11 of the 1965 Act (powers of entry) shall be so modified as to secure that, as from the date on which the acquiring authority have served notice to treat in respect of any right, they have power, exercisable in the like circumstances and subject to the like conditions, to enter for the purpose of exercising that right (which shall be deemed for this purpose to have been created on the date of service of the notice); and sections 12 (penalty for unauthorised entry) and 13 (entry on warrant in the event of obstruction) shall be modified correspondingly.

Section 20 of the 1965 Act

7

Section 20 of the 1965 Act (protection for interests of tenants at will etc.) shall apply with the modifications necessary to secure that persons with such interests as are mentioned in that section are compensated in a manner corresponding to that in which they would be compensated on a compulsory acquisition under section 154 of this Act of that land, but taking into account only the extent (if any) of such interference with such an interest as is actually caused, or likely to be caused, by the exercise of the right in question.

Section 22 of the 1965 Act

8

Section 22 of the 1965 Act (protection of acquiring authority’s possession where by inadvertence an estate, right or interest has not been got in) shall be so modified as to enable the acquiring authority, in circumstances corresponding to those referred to in that section, to continue entitled to exercise the right acquired, subject to compliance with that section as respects compensation.

SCHEDULE 19

Applications for orders

1

(1) Where the appropriate agency applies to either of the Ministers for a compulsory works order, it shall—

(a) submit to that Minister a draft of the order applied for;

(b) publish a notice with respect to the application, at least once in each of two successive weeks, in one or more newspapers circulating in each relevant locality;

(i) serve a copy of the notice on each of the persons specified in relation to the application in sub-paragraph (3) below; and

(ii) in the case of a draft order which would authorise the stopping-up or diversion of a footpath, bridleway or restricted byway, cause such a copy, together with a plan showing the general effect of the draft order so far as it relates to the footpath, bridleway or restricted byway, to be displayed in a prominent position at the ends of the part of the path or way to be stopped up or diverted;

and

(d) publish a notice in the London Gazette which-

(i) states that the draft order has been submitted to that Minister;

(ii) names every local authority on whom a notice is required to be served under this paragraph;

(iii) specifies a place where a copy of the draft order and of any relevant map or plan may be inspected; and

(iv) gives the name of every newspaper in which the notice required by virtue of paragraph (b) above was published and the date of an issue containing the notice.

(2) The notice required by virtue of sub-paragraph (1)(b) above to be published with respect to an application for an order by the appropriate agency shall—

(a) state the general effect of the order applied for;

(b) in the case of an application made wholly or partly for the purpose of enabling any discharges of water to be made—

(i) contain particulars of the proposed discharges, stating the purposes of the discharges and specifying each place of discharge;

(ii) specify the places at which the water to be comprised in the proposed discharges is to be taken and the treatment (if any) which the draft order proposes to require the water, or any of it, to receive before being discharged under the order; and

(iii) state the effect which, in the opinion of the appropriate agency, the proposed discharges would have on the flow, level and quality of water in any inland waters or underground strata;

(c) specify a place where a copy of the draft order and of any relevant map or plan may be inspected by any person free of charge at all reasonable times during the period of twenty-eight days beginning with the date of the first publication of the notice; and

(d) state that any person may within that period, by notice to the Minister applied to, object to the making of the order.

(3) The persons mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(c) above in relation to an application for a compulsory works order a draft of which has been submitted to either of the Ministers are—

(a) every local authority whose area is or includes the whole or any part of a relevant locality and which is not an English county council;

(b) every water undertaker whose area is or includes the whole or any part of such a locality;

(c) every navigation authority, harbour authority and conservancy authority which would be affected by, or has functions in relation to any inland waters which would be affected by, any provision proposed to be made by the order;

(d) every person who—

(i) is an owner, lessee, tenant (whatever the tenancy period) or occupier of any land in relation to which compulsory powers would become exercisable if the order were made in the terms of the draft order; or

(ii) who the water undertaker thinks is likely to be entitled to make a claim for compensation under section 10 of the Compulsory Purchase Act 1965 if the order is confirmed and the compulsory powers become exercisable, so far as he is known to the water undertaker after making diligent inquiry;

(e) every person who has given notice to the appropriate agency requiring it to notify him of applications for compulsory works orders and has paid such reasonable charge as the appropriate agency may have required him to pay for being notified by virtue of this paragraph;

(f) such other persons as may be prescribed.

(4) In this paragraph “relevant locality”, in relation to an application for an order, means—

(a) any locality which would be affected by any provision proposed to be made by the order for the purpose of enabling any engineering or building operations to be carried out; and

(b) where provision is proposed to be made by the order for the purpose of enabling discharges of water to be made, each locality in which the place of any of the proposed discharges is situated or in which there appears to the appropriate agency to be any inland waters or underground strata the flow, level or quality of water in which may be affected by any of the proposed discharges.

Supply of copies of draft orders

2

Where the appropriate agency is applying for a compulsory works order, it shall, at the request of any person and on payment by that person of such charge (if any) as the appropriate agency may reasonably require, furnish that person with a copy of any draft order submitted to either of the Ministers under paragraph 1 above and of any relevant map or plan.

Powers on an application

3

(1) On an application for a compulsory works order, the Minister or the Secretary of State may make the order either in the terms of the draft order submitted or, subject to sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) below, in those terms as modified in such manner as he thinks fit, or may refuse to make an order.

(2) Neither of the Ministers shall make such a modification of a draft order as he considers is likely adversely to affect any persons unless he is satisfied that the appropriate agency has given and published such additional notices, in such manner, as he may have required.

(3) Neither of the Ministers shall, unless all interested parties consent, make a compulsory works order so as to confer in relation to any land any powers of compulsory acquisition which would not have been conferred in relation to that land if the order were made in the terms of the draft order submitted under paragraph 1 above.

(4) Where one of the Ministers refuses, on an application for a compulsory works order, to make an order, the appropriate agency shall, as soon as practicable after the refusal, notify the refusal to every person on whom it was, by virtue of paragraph 1(1)(c)(i) above, required to serve a copy of the notice with respect to the application.

Consideration of objections etc.

4

(1) If, where an application for a compulsory works order has been made, either of the Ministers receives any notice of an objection to it, before the end of the relevant period, from—

(a) any person on whom a notice under paragraph 1 or 3 above is required to be served; or

(b) from any other person appearing to that Minister to be affected by the order as submitted or as proposed to be modified under paragraph 3 above,

then, unless the objection is withdrawn, the Minister or the Secretary of State shall, before making the order, either cause a local inquiry to be held or afford to the objector and to the appropriate agency an opportunity of appearing before, and being heard by, a person appointed by him for the purpose.

(2) Where any objection received by one of the Ministers as mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) above relates to any powers of compulsory acquisition, the Minister or the Secretary of State—

(a) may require the objector to state in writing the grounds of his objection; and

(b) if he is satisfied that the objection relates exclusively to matters that can be dealt with in the assessment of compensation, may disregard the objection for the purposes of that sub-paragraph.

(3) In this paragraph “the relevant period”, in relation to an application for any order, means the period ending with whichever is the later of—

(a) the end of the period of twenty-eight days beginning with the date of the first publication of the notice published with respect to the application for the purposes of paragraph 1(1)(b) above; and

(b) the end of the period of twenty-five days beginning with the date of the publication in the London Gazette of the notice published for the purposes of the application by virtue of paragraph 1(1)(d) above,

together, in the case of an application for an order modifications to which have been proposed by the Minister considering the application, with any further periods specified with respect to the modifications in notices under paragraph 3(2) above.

Notice after making of order

5

(1) As soon as practicable after a compulsory works order has been made, the appropriate agency shall—

(a) publish a notice of the making of the order, at least once in each of two successive weeks, in one or more newspapers circulating in each relevant locality; and

(b) not later than the date on which that notice is first published—

(i) serve a copy of the notice on every person on whom the appropriate agency was, by virtue of paragraph 1(1)(c)(i) above, required to serve a copy of the notice with respect to the application for the order; and

(ii) in the case of an order authorising the stopping-up or diversion of a footpath, bridleway or restricted byway, cause such a copy, together with a plan showing the general effect of the order so far as it relates to the footpath, bridleway or restricted byway, to be displayed in a prominent position at the ends of the appropriate part of the path or way.

(2) The notice required by virtue of sub-paragraph (1)(a) above to be published with respect to a compulsory works order shall—

(a) state the general effect of the order;

(b) in the case of an order made wholly or partly for the purpose of enabling any discharges of water to be made—

(i) contain particulars of the discharges, stating the purposes of the discharges and specifying each place of discharge;

(ii) specify the places at which the water to be comprised in the discharges is to be taken and the treatment (if any) which the order requires the water, or any of it, to receive before being discharged under the order; and

(iii) state the effect which, in the opinion of the applicant, the discharges would have on the flow, level and quality of water in any inland waters or underground strata; and

(c) specify a place where a copy of the order and of any relevant map or plan may be inspected by any person free of charge at all reasonable times.

(3) Where a compulsory works order has been made, the appropriate agency shall, at the request of any person and on payment by that person of such charge (if any) as the appropriate agency may reasonably require, furnish that person with a copy of the order and of any relevant map or plan.

(4) In this paragraph “relevant locality”, in relation to any compulsory works order, means—

(a) any locality which is affected by any provision made by the order for the purpose of enabling any engineering or building operations to be carried out; and

(b) where provision is made by the order for the purpose of enabling discharges of water to be made, each locality in which the place of any of the discharges is situated or in which there appears to the appropriate agency to be any inland waters or underground strata the flow, level or quality of water in which may be affected by any of the discharges.

Compulsory acquisition provisions

6

(1) Without prejudice to the provisions of Schedule 23 to this Act—

(a) Part I of the Compulsory Purchase Act 1965;

(b) sections 2A and 4 and Part III of, and Schedule 3 to, the Acquisition of Land Act 1981; and

shall apply in relation to so much of a compulsory works order as confers powers of compulsory acquisition as they apply in relation to a compulsory purchase order made by virtue of section 154 of this Act and, accordingly, shall so apply, where the case so requires, with the modifications made by Schedule 18 to this Act.

(2) Subject to the provisions of sub-paragraph (6) below, if any person aggrieved by a compulsory works order containing powers of compulsory acquisition, or by a certificate given under the special land provisions in connection with such an order, desires—

(a) to question the validity of the order, or of any provision of the order, on the grounds that any powers of compulsory acquisition conferred by the order are not authorised by this Act to be so conferred, or that any of the relevant requirements have not been complied with in relation to the order; or

(b) to question the validity of the certificate on the grounds that any of the relevant requirements have not been complied with in relation to the certificate,

he may make an application for the purpose to the High Court at any time before the end of the period of six weeks beginning with the date on which notice of the making of the order is first published in accordance with paragraph 5 above or, as the case may be, notice of the giving of the certificate is first published in accordance with the special land provisions.

(3) On any application under sub-paragraph (2) above with respect to any order or certificate, the High Court—

(a) may by interim order suspend the operation of the order, or any provision of the order, or of the certificate (either generally or in so far as it affects any property of the applicant to the High Court) until the final determination of the proceedings; and

(b) if satisfied—

(i) that any powers of compulsory acquisition conferred by the order are not authorised by this Act to be so conferred; or

(ii) that the interests of that applicant have been substantially prejudiced by a failure to comply with any of the relevant requirements in relation to the order or the certificate,

may quash the order, or any provision of the order, or the certificate (either generally or in so far as it affects any property of that applicant).

(4) Except as provided by sub-paragraph (2) above, the validity of any such order or certificate as is mentioned in that sub-paragraph shall not, either before or after the order or certificate has been made or given, be questioned in any legal proceedings whatsoever.

(5) Subject to any order of the High Court under sub-paragraph (3) above, any such order or certificate as is mentioned in sub-paragraph (2) above shall become operative (except, in the case of an order, where it is subject by virtue of the special land provisions to special parliamentary procedure) on the date on which notice of the making or giving of the order or certificate is published as mentioned in the said sub-paragraph (2).

(6) Where an order such as is mentioned in sub-paragraph (2) above is subject to special parliamentary procedure, sub-paragraphs (2) to (4) of this paragraph—

(a) shall not apply to the order if it is confirmed by Act of Parliament under section 4 or 6 of the Statutory Orders (Special Procedure) Act 1945; and

(b) in any other case, shall have effect as if the reference in sub-paragraph (2) of this paragraph to the date on which notice of the making of the order is first published in accordance with paragraph 5 above were a reference to the date on which the order becomes operative under the said Act of 1945.

(7) In this paragraph—

“the special land provisions” means the provisions, as applied by virtue of sub-paragraph (1) above, of Part III of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 or, as the case may require, of Part II of Schedule 3 to that Act; and

“the relevant requirements”, in relation to an order or certificate, means the requirements of this Schedule and such requirements of the special land provisions or of any other enactment as are applicable to that order or certificate by virtue of this paragraph.

Compensation in certain cases of compulsory acquisition

7

Where—

(a) in connection with any engineering or building operations to which a compulsory works order relates, a licence under Chapter II of Part II of this Act is granted, or is deemed to be granted, to the appropriate agency; and

(b) that licence is a licence to abstract water or to obstruct or impede the flow of any inland waters,

no compensation shall be payable by virtue of sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 6 above in respect of any land or interest injuriously affected by the carrying out of those operations, in so far as that land or interest is injuriously affected by the abstraction of water, or the obstruction or impeding of the flow, in accordance with the provisions of the licence.

Compensation in respect of powers other than acquisition powers

8

(1) If the value of any interest in any relevant land is depreciated by the coming into force of so much of any compulsory works order as—

(a) confers compulsory powers, other than powers of compulsory acquisition, for the purpose of enabling any engineering or building operations to be carried out; and

(b) grants authority for the carrying out of the operations,

the person entitled to that interest shall be entitled to compensation from the appropriate agency of an amount equal to the amount of the depreciation.

(2) Where the person entitled to an interest in any relevant land sustains loss or damage which—

(a) is attributable to so much of any compulsory works order as—

(i) confers compulsory powers, other than powers of compulsory acquisition, for the purpose of enabling any engineering or building operations to be carried out; and

(ii) grants authority for the carrying out of the operations;

(b) does not consist in depreciation of the value of that interest; and

(c) is loss or damage for which he would have been entitled to compensation by way of compensation for disturbance, if his interest in that land had been compulsorily acquired under section 154 of this Act in pursuance of a notice to treat served on the date on which the order comes into force,

he shall be entitled to compensation from the appropriate agency in respect of that loss or damage, in addition to compensation under sub-paragraph (1) above.

(3) Where any damage to, or injurious affection of, any land which is not relevant land is attributable to so much of any compulsory works order as—

(a) confers compulsory powers, other than powers of compulsory acquisition, for the purpose of enabling any engineering or building operations to be carried out; and

(b) grants authority for the carrying out of the operations,

the appropriate agency shall pay compensation in respect of that damage or injurious affection to every person entitled to an interest in that land.

(4) A person who sustains any loss or damage which is attributable to any discharge of water made by the appropriate agency in pursuance of a compulsory works order shall be entitled to recover compensation from the appropriate agency in respect of the loss or damage.

(5) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (4) above any extra expenditure—

(a) which it becomes reasonably necessary for any water undertaker or public authority (other than the appropriate agency) to incur for the purpose of properly carrying out any statutory functions; and

(b) which is attributable to any such discharge of water as is mentioned in that sub-paragraph,

shall be deemed to be a loss sustained by the undertaker or public authority and to be so attributable.

(6) Any question of disputed compensation under this paragraph, shall be referred to and determined by the Upper Tribunal; and in relation to the determination of any such compensation the provisions of section 4 of the Land Compensation Act 1961 shall apply, subject to any necessary modifications.

(7) For the purpose of assessing any compensation under this paragraph, so far as that compensation is in respect of loss or damage consisting in depreciation of the value of an interest in land, the rules set out in section 5 of the Land Compensation Act 1961 shall, so far as applicable and subject to any necessary modifications, have effect as they have effect for the purpose of assessing compensation for the compulsory acquisition of an interest in land.

(8) Where the interest in land in respect of which any compensation falls to be assessed in accordance with sub-paragraph (7) above is subject to a mortgage—

(a) the compensation shall be assessed as if the interest were not subject to the mortgage;

(b) a claim for compensation may be made by any mortgagee of the interest, but without prejudice to the making of a claim by the person entitled to the interest;

(c) no such compensation shall be payable in respect of the interest of the mortgagee (as distinct from the interest which is subject to the mortgage); and

(d) any such compensation which is payable in respect of the interest which is subject to the mortgage shall be paid to the mortgagee, or, if there is more than one mortgagee, to the first mortgagee, and shall in either case be applied by him as if it were proceeds of sale.

(9) In this paragraph “relevant land”, in relation to a compulsory works order, means any land which is not land in relation to which powers of compulsory acquisition are conferred by the order but is—

(a) land where any operations for which authority is granted by the order are to be carried out;

(b) land in relation to which compulsory powers are conferred by the order; or

Protection of public undertakings

9

The provisions of section 179 and paragraphs 1, 2 and 5 of Schedule 22 to this Act shall apply, as they apply in relation to the carrying out of works in exercise of the powers specified in those provisions, in relation to the carrying out of works by virtue of an authority granted by so much of any compulsory works order as makes provision other than provision conferring powers of compulsory acquisition.

Interpretation

10

In this Schedule—

“bridleway” and “footpath” have the same meanings as in the Highways Act 1980;

“compulsory works order” means an order under section 168 of this Act;

“powers of compulsory acquisition” means any such powers as are mentioned in subsection (4)(a) of section 168 of this Act;

“restricted byway” has the same meaning as in Part 2 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000;

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

SCHEDULE 20

Notice of entry

1

(1) Without prejudice to any power exercisable by virtue of a warrant under this Schedule, no person shall make an entry into any premises or vessel by virtue of any power conferred by sections 169 to 172 of this Act except—

(a) in an emergency; or

(b) at a reasonable time and after the required notice of the intended entry has been given to the occupier of the premises or vessel.

(2) For the purposes of this paragraph the required notice is seven days’ notice; but such notice shall not be required in the case of an exercise of a power conferred by section 169 or 172 above, except where the premises in question are residential premises, the vessel in question is used for residential purposes or the entry in question is to be with heavy equipment.

(3) For the purposes of the application of this paragraph to the power conferred by section 170 of this Act the reference in sub-paragraph (1) above to an emergency—

(a) in relation to any entry to premises for the purposes of, or for purposes connected with, the exercise or proposed exercise of any power in relation to a street, includes a reference to any circumstances requiring the carrying out of emergency works within the meaning of Part III of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991; and

(b) in relation to any other entry to premises, includes a reference to any danger to property and to any interruption of a supply of water provided to any premises by any person and to any interruption of the provision of sewerage services to any premises.

(4) Until the coming into force of section 52 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, sub-paragraph (3) above shall have effect as if the reference to Part III of that Act were a reference to the Public Utilities Street Works Act 1950; but nothing in this sub-paragraph shall be taken to prejudice the power of the Secretary of State under that Act of 1991 to make an order bringing that section 52 into force on different days for different purposes (including the purposes of this paragraph).

Warrant to exercise power

2

(1) If it is shown to the satisfaction of a justice of the peace on sworn information in writing—

(a) that there are reasonable grounds for the exercise in relation to any premises or vessel of a power conferred by sections 169 to 172 of this Act; and

(b) that one or more of the conditions specified in sub-paragraph (2) below is fulfilled in relation to those premises or that vessel,

the justice may by warrant authorise the relevant authority to designate a person who shall be authorised to exercise the power in relation to those premises, or that vessel, in accordance with the warrant and, if need be, by force.

(2) The conditions mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(b) above are—

(a) that the exercise of the power in relation to the premises or vessel has been refused;

(b) that such a refusal is reasonably apprehended;

(d) that the occupier is temporarily absent from the premises or vessel;

(e) that the case is one of urgency; or

(f) that an application for admission to the premises or vessel would defeat the object of the proposed entry.

(3) A justice of the peace shall not issue a warrant under this Schedule by virtue only of being satisfied that the exercise of a power in relation to any premises or vessel has been refused, or that a refusal is reasonably apprehended, unless he is also satisfied—

(a) that notice of the intention to apply for the warrant has been given to the occupier of the premises or vessel; or

(b) that the giving of such a notice would defeat the object of the proposed entry.

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Water Resources Act 1991

Section 61 of this Act

5

Licences of right

6

SCHEDULE 8

1

Objections to and making of orders

2

Notice after making of order

3

SCHEDULE 9

Compensation to be made in the case of all drought orders

1

Compensation to be made in the case of ordinary orders only

2

Claims for compensation: general

3

Claims for compensation under paragraph 2

4

Schedule 10

Applications for consents

1

Consideration and determination of applications

2

Notification of proposal to give consent

3

Reference to Secretary of State of certain applications forconsent

4

Consents without applications

5

Revocation of consents and alteration and imposition of conditions

6

Restriction on variation and revocation of consent and previous variation

7

SCHEDULE 11

Applications for orders

1

Supply of copies of draft orders

2

Modifications of proposals

3

Consideration of objections etc.

4

SCHEDULE 12

Part I — APPLICATIONS BY THE AGENCY FOR DESIGNATIONS ORDERS

Orders made only on application

1

Procedure for applications

2

Part II — ORDERS CONTAINING MANDATORY PROVISIONS

Publication of proposal for order containing mandatory provisions

3

Supply of copies of proposed orders

4

Modifications of proposals

5

Consideration of objections et ceteralaetc.

6

Consent of Treasury for payment provisions

7

SCHEDULE 13

Transitional power to transfer power of determination with respect to water pollution matters to the Agency

1

Order under section 32(3) of the 1974 Act

2

Pre-1989 transitional provisions

3

Discharge consents on application of undertakers et ceteralaetc.

4

SCHEDULE 14

Procedure on application for order

1

Order making procedure etc.

2

Determination of whether to make order

3

Notice of orders

4

Challenge to orders