Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (c. 37)

(The document as of February, 2008)

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4 (1) If either of the parties to an appeal or matter expresses a wish to appear before and be heard by the appointed person, the appointed person shall give both of them an opportunity of appearing and being heard.

(2) Whether or not a party to an appeal or matter has asked for an opportunity to appear and be heard, the appointed person--

(a) may hold a local inquiry or other hearing in connection with the appeal or matter, and

(b) shall, if the Secretary of State so directs, hold a local inquiry in connection with the appeal or matter.

(3) Where an appointed person holds a local inquiry or other hearing by virtue of this Schedule, an assessor may be appointed by the Secretary of State to sit with the appointed person at the inquiry or hearing and advise him on any matters arising, notwithstanding that the appointed person is to determine the appeal or matter.

(4) Subject to section 28F(10) or 28L(12), the costs of a local inquiry held under this Schedule shall be defrayed by the Secretary of State.

Revocation of appointments and making of new appointments

5 (1) Where under paragraph 2(c) the appointment of the appointed person is revoked in respect of any appeal or matter, the Secretary of State shall, unless he proposes to determine the appeal or matter himself, appoint another person under section 28F(8) or 28L(10) to determine the appeal or matter instead.

(2) Where such a new appointment is made, the consideration of the appeal or matter, or any hearing in connection with it, shall be begun afresh.

(3) Nothing in sub-paragraph (2) shall require any person to be given an opportunity of making fresh representations or modifying or withdrawing any representations already made.

Certain acts and omissions of appointed persons to be treated as those of the Secretary of State

6 (1) Anything done or omitted to be done by an appointed person in, or in connection with, the exercise or purported exercise of any function to which the appointment relates shall be treated for all purposes as done or omitted to be done by the Secretary of State.

(2) Sub-paragraph (1) shall not apply--

(a) for the purposes of so much of any contract made between the Secretary of State and the appointed person as relates to the exercise of the function; or

(b) for the purposes of any criminal proceedings brought in respect of anything done or omitted to be done as mentioned in that sub-paragraph. "

Section 76(1).

SCHEDULE 10 Consequential amendments relating to sites of special scientific interest

Part I Amendments of Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

1 (1) The 1981 Act is amended as follows.

(2) In section 28 (areas of special scientific interest)--

(a) in subsection (8)(a), "Part III of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 or" is omitted; and

(b) subsections (10) and (11) are omitted.

(3) In section 29 (special protection for certain areas of special scientific interest), in subsection (9)(a), "Part III of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 or" is omitted.

(4) In section 30 (compensation where order is made under section 29)--

(a) in subsection (4)(c), "section 10 of the Land Compensation Act 1973 (mortgages, trusts for sale and settlements) or" is omitted;

(b) in subsection (5), "section 5 of the Land Compensation Act 1961 or" is omitted;

(d) in subsection (8), "the Lands Tribunal or" is omitted; and

(e) in subsection (9), "sections 2 and 4 of the Land Compensation Act 1961 or" is omitted.

2 In section 74 of the 1981 Act (short title, commencement and extent), after subsection (5) there is inserted--

" (5A) Sections 29 and 30 extend to Scotland only. "

Part II Other amendments

Harbours Act 1964 (c. 40)

3 In Schedule 3 to the Harbours Act 1964 (procedure for making harbour revision and empowerment orders), in paragraph 1 (interpretation), for paragraph (a) of the definition of "sensitive area" there is substituted--

" (a) land within a site of special scientific interest (within the meaning of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981); " .

Conservation of Seals Act 1970 (c. 30)

4 In section 10 of the Conservation of Seals Act 1970 (power to grant licences to kill or take seals), in subsection (4), for paragraph (b) there is substituted--

" (b) is a site of special scientific interest (within the meaning of the [1981 c. 69.] Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981); or " .

Highways Act 1980 (c. 66)

5 In section 105A of the Highways Act 1980 (environmental impact assessments), in subsection (6), for paragraph (a) there is substituted--

" (a) a site of special scientific interest (within the meaning of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981); " .

Channel Tunnel Act 1987 (c. 53)

6 In section 9 of the Channel Tunnel Act 1987 (planning permission), for subsection (7) there is substituted--

" (7) Section 28I of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (statutory undertakers: duty in relation to authorising operations) shall not apply in relation to any operation which is connected with the carrying out of any works authorised to be carried out by this Act and which is carried out within the limits of land to be acquired for any of those works, and neither shall the following--

(a) section 28E(1) (prohibition of operations on land forming part of a site of special scientific interest), in relation to an owner or occupier other than an authority to which section 28G of that Act applies;

(b) sections 28G(2) (general duty of statutory undertakers) and 28H (duty of statutory undertakers when carrying out operations), in relation to such an authority. "

Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (c. 8)

7 In section 87 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (exclusion of certain descriptions of land or development from a simplified planning zone), in subsection (1), for paragraph (f) there is substituted--

" (f) land within a site of special scientific interest (within the meaning of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981). " .

Environmental Protection Act 1990 (c. 43)

8 In section 36 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (grant of waste management licences), in subsection (7), for "land which has been notified under section 28(1) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (protection for certain areas)" there is substituted "within a site of special scientific interest (within the meaning of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981)".

Water Industry Act 1991 (c. 56)

9 In section 156 of the Water Industry Act 1991 (restriction on disposals of land), in subsection (8), for paragraph (b) in the definition of "area of outstanding natural beauty or special scientific interest" there is substituted--

" (b) is a site of special scientific interest within the meaning of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; " .

Environment Act 1995 (c. 25)

10 In Schedule 13 to the Environment Act 1995 (review of old mineral planning permissions), for paragraph 2(4)(b) there is substituted--

" (b) a site of special scientific interest (within the meaning of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981); " .

Channel Tunnel Rail Link Act 1996 (c. 61)

11 In Schedule 10 to the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Act 1996 (disapplication and modification of miscellaneous controls), for paragraph 6 and the heading preceding it there is substituted--

" Sites of special scientific interest

6 Section 28I of the [1981 c. 69.] Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (statutory undertakers: duty in relation to authorising operations) shall not apply to any operation carried out for the purposes of or in connection with the exercise of any of the powers conferred by this Part of this Act with respect to works, and neither shall the following--

(b) sections 28G(2) (general duty of statutory undertakers) and 28H (duty of statutory undertakers when carrying out operations), in relation to such an authority. " .

Section 76(2).

SCHEDULE 11 Transitional provisions and savings relating to sites of special scientific interest

Interpretation

1 (1) In this Schedule--

"the Nature Conservancy Council" has the meaning given by section 27A of the 1981 Act and "stop notice" has the meaning given by paragraph 9(3) of this Schedule;
"old section 28" means section 28 of the 1981 Act as it had effect before its substitution by section 75(1) of and Schedule 9 to this Act;
"new section 28" means section 28 of the 1981 Act as substituted by section 75(1) of and Schedule 9 to this Act; and
"the substitution date" means the date on which new section 28 is substituted for old section 28,

and references to other sections are to those sections in the 1981 Act unless otherwise specified.

(2) Nothing in this Schedule prejudices the application of section 16 (general savings) or 17 (repeal and re-enactment) of the [1978 c. 30.] Interpretation Act 1978 to any case not provided for in this Schedule.

Notifications given under old section 28

2 Except as mentioned in paragraphs 4 and 5, a notification under old section 28(1)(a), (b) or (c) (including one having effect in modified form by virtue of old section 28(4C)) has effect from the substitution date as if it were a notification under new section 28(1)(a), (b) or (c) respectively.

3 A notice under old section 28(4A)(a) or (b) has effect from the substitution date as if it were a notice under new section 28(5)(a) or (b) respectively.

Modification of operation of new section 28

4 New section 28(2) does not apply to a notification taking effect as mentioned in paragraph 2.

5 The words following paragraph (b) in new section 28(4) do not apply to a notification taking effect as mentioned in paragraph 2, but instead paragraph 6 applies.

6 (1) The Nature Conservancy Council shall, within the period of five years beginning with the substitution date, give a notice to every owner and occupier of any land which is the subject of--

(a) a notification under old section 28(4A)(b), or

(b) a notice under new section 28(5)(b) following a notification under old section 28(1),

containing a statement of the Council's views about the matters referred to in the words following paragraph (b) in new section 28(4).

(2) The notice shall specify the date (not being less than three months from the date of the giving of the notice) on or before which, and the manner in which, representations or objections with respect to it may be made; and the Council shall consider any representation or objection duly made.

(3) Within the period of two months beginning immediately after the date referred to in sub-paragraph (2), the Council shall give a notice to every owner and occupier of the land confirming the statement referred to in sub-paragraph (1) or containing a revised statement.

Modification of operation of section 28A

7 (1) This paragraph applies to a notification under old section 28(1) given--

(a) before the commencement of the [1985 c. 31.] Wildlife and Countryside (Amendment) Act 1985; or

(b) after the commencement of that Act but preceded by a notice under section 28(2) as originally enacted, given during the six months immediately preceding that commencement.

(2) In relation to a notification to which this paragraph applies, the reference in section 28A(1) to--

(a) notice given under section 28(5)(b) confirming a notification with or without modifications, and

(b) the confirmed notification,

shall be construed as a reference to the notification under old section 28(1).

Modification of operation of section 28E

8 (1) Except as provided in paragraph 9--

(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 28E(1)(a); and

(b) a consent given under old section 28(6)(a) has effect from that date as if it were a consent under section 28E(3)(a).

(2) In relation to such a consent, section 28E has effect as if for subsections (7) and (8) there were substituted--

" (7) A notice under subsection (6) must include a notice of--

(a) the Council's reasons for withdrawing or modifying the consent;

(b) the rights of appeal under section 28F;

(d) the effect of section 28M. "

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

(a) a notice has been given under old section 28(5)(a) before the substitution date;

(b) on the substitution date neither of the conditions set out in old section 28(6)(a) and (b) is fulfilled; and

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 28E(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--

(a) the date on which it is to take effect;

(b) the operations to which it applies; and

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--

(a) three years beginning with the substitution date; or

(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 party 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 28F(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 28F(1)(d)), but with the following modifications--

(a) as if, in section 28F(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

(b) as if, for section 28F(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--

(a) the Council consent to an operation to which the stop notice applies;

(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 [1949 c. 97.] Countryside Act 1949 or section 15 of the [1968 c. 41.] Countryside Act 1968; or

(c) an operation to which it applies becomes one which may be carried out in accordance with a management scheme under section 28J or a management notice under section 28K,

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 28F

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

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

Modification of operation of section 28H

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

Section 29

15 Paragraphs 16 and 17 apply where, immediately before the coming into force of paragraph 2 of Schedule 9 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 28E applies to it as if it were (and accordingly section 28P(1) applies also); and references in section 28E 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 28E(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 28E(3)(a), and in relation to such a consent section 28E has effect as if for subsections (7) and (8) there were substituted--

" (7) A notice under subsection (6) must include a notice of--

(a) the Council's reasons for withdrawing or modifying the consent;

(b) the rights of appeal under section 28F;

(d) the effect of section 28M. "

17 (1) This paragraph applies where--

(a) a notice has been given under section 29(4)(a) before the repeal of section 29 by paragraph 2 of Schedule 9 to this Act;

(b) on the date on which paragraph 2 of Schedule 9 to this Act comes into force, neither of the conditions set out in section 29(5)(a) and (b) is fulfilled; and

(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 28E(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--

(a) in those provisions references to a notice under old section 28(5)(a) were to a notice under section 29(4)(a); and

(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--

(a) as a result of the coming into force of paragraph 2 of Schedule 9 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

(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--

(a) applies to the Council for such a payment; and

(b) satisfies the Council that he has incurred the expenses.

Compensation and grants

19 (1) Despite its repeal by paragraph 2 of Schedule 9 to this Act, section 30 (compensation where order made under section 29) continues to apply in connection with an order made under section 29 before the coming into force of that paragraph.

(2) After the repeal of section 29 by that paragraph, section 32 (duties of agriculture Ministers with respect to areas of special scientific interest) continues to apply, in relation to an application under that section relating to land to which section 29(3) applied immediately before its repeal, as if that land were included in a site of special scientific interest.

Offences and restoration orders

20 (1) Section 28P does not have effect in relation to an offence committed before the substitution date, but old section 28 or, as the case may be, section 29, has effect instead.

(2) In relation to an offence under section 29, section 31 as it had effect before the coming into force of paragraph 3 of Schedule 9 to this Act shall continue to apply.

Powers of entry

21 Section 51 (powers of entry) has effect on and after the substitution date as if, in subsection (1), after paragraph (m) there were inserted--

" (n) to determine whether or not to give or vary a stop notice; " ,

and as if, in subsection (2)(a), after "paragraphs (a) to (k)" there were inserted "and paragraph (n)".

Service of notices

22 Section 70A (service of notices) applies in relation to notices given under this Schedule as it applies in relation to notices and other documents required or authorised to be served or given under the 1981 Act.

Section 81(1).

SCHEDULE 12 Amendments relating to Part I of Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

1 In section 1(5) of the 1981 Act (offence of intentional disturbance of wild birds) after "intentionally" there is inserted "or recklessly".

2 In section 3 of that Act (areas of special protection) in subsection (1)(c) for "the offender shall be liable to a special penalty" there is substituted "the offence shall be treated as falling within section 7(3A)".

3 In section 6 of that Act (sale etc. of live or dead wild birds, eggs etc.), in subsection (2) the words from "who is not" to "Secretary of State" are omitted.

4 (1) In section 7 of that Act (registration etc. of certain captive birds), in subsection (3)(a), for "for which a special penalty is provided" there is substituted "which falls within subsection (3A)".

(2) After subsection (3) of that section there is inserted--

" (3A) The offences falling within this subsection are--

(a) any offence under section 1(1) or (2) in respect of--

(i) a bird included in Schedule 1 or any part of, or anything derived from, such a bird,

(ii) the nest of such a bird, or

(iii) an egg of such a bird or any part of such an egg;

(b) any offence under section 1(5) or 5;

(i) a bird included in Schedule 1 or any part of, or anything derived from, such a bird, or

(ii) an egg of such a bird or any part of such an egg;

(d) any offence under section 8. " .

5 In section 9 of that Act (protection of certain wild animals)--

(a) in subsection (4) after "intentionally" there is inserted "or recklessly", and

(b) after that subsection there is inserted--

" (4A) Subject to the provisions of this Part, if any person intentionally or recklessly disturbs any wild animal included in Schedule 5 as--

(a) a dolphin or whale (cetacea), or

(b) a basking shark (cetorhinus maximus),

he shall be guilty of an offence. "

6 In section 16(3) of that Act (power to grant licences) for "and (4)" there is substituted ", (4) and (4A)".

7 In section 19 of that Act (enforcement of Part I), in subsection (3) for the words from "suspecting that" to "has been committed" there is substituted "suspecting that an offence under this Part has been committed".

8 After that section there is inserted--

" 19ZA Enforcement: wildlife inspectors

(1) In this Part, "wildlife inspector" means a person authorised in writing by the Secretary of State under this subsection.

(2) An authorisation under subsection (1) is subject to any conditions or limitations specified in it.

(3) A wildlife inspector may, at any reasonable time and (if required to do so) upon producing evidence that he is authorised--

(a) enter and inspect any premises for the purpose of ascertaining whether an offence under section 6, 9(5) or 13(2) is being, or has been, committed on those premises;

(b) enter and inspect any premises where he has reasonable cause to believe that any birds included in Schedule 4 are kept, for the purpose of ascertaining whether an offence under section 7 is being, or has been, committed on those premises;

(c) enter any premises for the purpose of ascertaining whether an offence under section 14 is being, or has been, committed on those premises;

(d) enter and inspect any premises for the purpose of verifying any statement or representation which has been made by an occupier, or any document or information which has been furnished by him, and which he made or furnished--

(i) for the purposes of obtaining (whether for himself or another) a relevant registration or licence, or

(ii) in connection with a relevant registration or licence held by him.

(4) In subsection (3)--

(a) paragraphs (a) and (b) do not confer power to enter a dwelling except for purposes connected with--

(i) a relevant registration or licence held by an occupier of the dwelling, or

(ii) an application by an occupier of the dwelling for a relevant registration or licence; and

(b) paragraph (c) does not confer any power to enter a dwelling.

(5) A wildlife inspector may, for the purpose of ascertaining whether an offence under section 6, 7, 9(5), 13(2) or 14 is being, or has been, committed in respect of any specimen, require any person who has the specimen in his possession or control to make it available for examination by the inspector.

(6) Any person who has in his possession or control any live bird or other animal shall give any wildlife inspector acting in the exercise of powers conferred by this section such assistance as the inspector may reasonably require for the purpose of examining the bird or other animal.

(7) Any person who--

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