HL Deb 16 October 2000 vol 617 cc722-5

8.—(1) Except as provided in paragraph 9—

  1. (a) a notice given under old section 28(5)(a) has effect from the substitution date as if it were a notice given under section 28C(1)(a); and
  2. (b) a consent given under old section 28(6)(a) has effect from that date as if it were a consent under section 28C(3)(a).

(2) In relation to such a consent, section 28C has effect as if for subsections (7) and (7A) there were substituted— (7) A notice under subsection (6) must include a notice of—

  1. (a) the Council's reasons for withdrawing or modifying the consent;
  2. (b) the rights of appeal under section 28D;
  3. (c) the effect of subsection (8); and
  4. (d) the effect of section 28K."

9.—(1) Subject to paragraph 10, this paragraph applies where—

  1. (a) a notice has been given under old section 28(5)(a) before the substitution date;
  2. (b) on the substitution date neither of the conditions set out in old section 28(6)(a) and (b) is fulfilled; and
  3. (c) on the substitution date four months have expired since the notice under old section 28(5)(a) was given,
but even if those conditions are fulfilled, this paragraph does not apply in relation to operations specified in a notice under section 29(4)(a) on any land if immediately before the substitution date an order under section 29 was in effect in relation to that land.

(2) Where this paragraph applies, but subject to sub-paragraph (7), the prohibition in section 28C(1) on carrying out, or causing or permitting to be carried out, an operation does not apply in relation to an operation specified in the notice under old section 28(5)(a).

(3) Where this paragraph applies, the Nature Conservancy Council may, on or after the substitution date, give a notice (a "stop notice") to every owner and occupier of the land to which the stop notice is to apply.

(4) A stop notice is to specify—

  1. (a) the date on which it is to take effect;
  2. (b) the operations to which it applies; and
  3. (c) the land to which it applies,
and must contain a notice of the right of the person to whom the stop notice is given to appeal against it in accordance with paragraph 11, and a notice of the effect of sub-paragraph (8).

(5) The date on which a stop notice is to take effect may not be sooner than the end of the period of three days beginning with the date the stop notice is given, unless the Council consider that there are special reasons which justify a shorter period, and a statement of those reasons is included with the stop notice.

(6) The operations to which a stop notice may apply are all or any of the operations specified in the notice under old section 28(5)(a).

(7) From the date on which the stop notice takes effect, sub-paragraph (2) of this paragraph ceases to apply in relation to the operations specified in the stop notice on the land to which the stop notice applies.

(8) Where the Council give a stop notice, they shall make a payment to any owner or occupier of the land who suffers loss because of it.

(9) The amount of a payment under sub-paragraph (8) is to be determined by the Council in accordance with guidance given and published by the Ministers (within the meaning of section 50).

(10) Section 50(3) applies to the determination of the amount of a payment under sub-paragraph (8) as it applies to the determination of the amount of payments under that section.

(11) This paragraph ceases to apply, in relation to any operation specified in the notice referred to in sub-paragraph (1)(a) except an operation to which a stop notice applies, if the operation has not begun before the end of the period of—

  1. (a) three years beginning with the substitution date; or
  2. (b) in a case falling within paragraph 10(2) or (3), three years beginning immediately after the expiry of the period of one month or longer referred to there.

10.—(1) An agreement under old section 28(6A) in effect immediately before the substitution date has effect from the substitution date as an agreement that paragraph 9 is not to apply in relation to the operation which is the subject of the agreement; and, accordingly, paragraph 9 does not apply in relation to that operation (as regards both the owner and the occupier of the land).

(2) Where a notice has been given under old section 28(6B) before the substitution date, paragraph 9 has effect, in relation to the operation in question, as if for the period mentioned in paragraph 9(1)(c) there were substituted the period of one month from the giving of the notice or (if a longer period is specified in the notice) that longer period.

(3) If after an agreement has taken effect as mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) the relevant person (whether a patty to the agreement or not) gives the Nature Conservancy Council written notice that he wishes to terminate the agreement, then as from the giving of the notice paragraph 9 has effect, in relation to the operation in question (as regards both the owner and the occupier of the land), as if for the period mentioned in paragraph 9(1)(c) there were substituted the period of one month from the giving of the notice or (if a longer period is specified in the notice) that longer period.

(4) In sub-paragraph (3), "relevant person" has the same meaning as in old section 28(6C).

11.—(1) A person to whom a stop notice is given may by notice appeal against it to the Secretary of State, but meanwhile it remains in effect.

(2) Section 28D(3) to (11) shall apply in relation to such an appeal as they apply in relation to an appeal against a decision to withdraw a consent (see section 28D(1)(d)), but with We following modifications—

  1. (a) as if, in section 28D(3), for paragraphs (a) and (b) and the following words "or, in either case," there were substituted "within the period of two months beginning with the date of the stop notice, or"; and
  2. (b) as if, for section 28D(5), there were substituted—

"(5) On determining the appeal, the Secretary of State may quash or affirm the stop notice; and if he affirms it, he may do so either in its original form or with the removal from it of such operations as he thinks fit, or in relation to such reduced area of land as he thinks fit."

12.—(1) The Nature Conservancy Council may, by notice given to every owner and occupier of land to which a stop notice applies, vary a stop notice by removing any operation to which it applies or reducing the area of land to which it applies.

(2) Where after giving a stop notice—

  1. (a) the Council consent to an operation to which the stop notice applies;
  2. (b) an operation to which it applies becomes one which may be carried out under the terms of an agreement under section 16 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 or section 15 of the Countryside Act 1968; or
  3. (c) an operation to which it applies becomes one which may be carried out in accordance with a management scheme under section 28H or a management notice under section 28I,
the stop notice shall be deemed to be varied accordingly by the removal from the stop notice of the operation in question in relation to the land to which the consent, agreement or management scheme or notice relates.

Modification of operation of section 28D

13.—(1) Section 28D(1)(a) does not apply to a refusal of a consent under old section 28(6)(a).

(2) Section 28D(1)(b) does not apply to consents taking effect as mentioned in paragraph 8(1)(b).

Modification of operation of section 28F

14. Section 28F does not apply in relation to operations which have already begun on the date section 28F comes into force.

Section 29

15. Paragraphs 16 and 17 apply where, immediately before the coming into force of paragraph 2 of Schedule 8 to this Act, there is in effect an order applying section 29(3) to any land ("the relevant land").

16.—(1) If the relevant land is not included in a site of special scientific interest, section 28C applies to it as if it were (and accordingly section 28M(1) applies also); and references in section 28C to a notification under section 28(1)(b) shall be construed as references to an order under section 29.

(2) Whether or not the relevant land is included in a site of special scientific interest, a notice given under section 29(4)(a) has effect as if it were a notice given under section 28C(1)(a), except as provided in paragraph 17.

(3) Whether or not the relevant land is included in a site of special scientific interest, a consent given under section 29(5)(a) has effect as if it were a consent given under section 28C(3)(a), and in relation to such a consent section 28C has effect as if for subsections (7) and (7A) there were substituted— (7) A notice under subsection (6) must include a notice of—

  1. (a) the Council's reasons for withdrawing or modifying the consent;
  2. (b) the rights of appeal under section 28D;
  3. (c) the effect of subsection (8); and
  4. (d) the effect of section 28K."

17.—(1) This paragraph applies where—

  1. (a) a notice has been given under section 29(4)(a) before the repeal of section 29 by paragraph 2 of Schedule 8 to this Act;
  2. (b) on the date on which paragraph 2 of Schedule 8 to this Act comes into force, neither of the conditions set out in section 29(5)(a) and (b) is fulfilled; and
  3. (c) on that date the period mentioned in paragraph (c) of section 29(5) (or in that paragraph as it has effect by virtue of section 29(6) or (7)) has expired.

(2) Where this paragraph applies, but subject to paragraph 9(7) as it has effect by virtue of sub-paragraph (3) of this paragraph, the prohibition in section 28C(1) on carrying out, or causing or permitting to be carried out, an operation does not apply in relation to an operation specified in the notice under section 29(4)(a).

(3) Paragraphs 9(3) to (11) and 11 of this Schedule apply also in relation to this paragraph, but as if—

  1. (a) in those provisions references to a notice under old section 28(5)(a) were to a notice under section 29(4)(a); and
  2. (b) the reference to "sub-paragraph (2)" in paragraph 9(7) were to sub-paragraph (2) of this paragraph.

18.—(1) This paragraph applies where—

  1. (a) as a result of the coming into force of paragraph 2 of Schedule 8 to this Act, a local inquiry or a hearing (as mentioned in paragraph 4(1)(a) and (b) respectively of Schedule 11 to the 1981 Act) comes to an end, and
  2. (b) an owner or occupier of land in relation to which an order under section 29 has been made has incurred expense in connection with opposing the order at the local inquiry or hearing.

(2) If this paragraph applies, the Nature Conservancy Council shall (subject to sub-paragraph (3)) pay a person's expenses referred to in paragraph (1)(b) to the extent that they are reasonable.

(3) The Council need not pay any such expenses unless the person—

  1. (a) applies to the Council for such a payment; and
  2. (b) satisfies the Council that he has incurred the expenses.