Section 52: Proposals for modification at instance of the appropriate agency or Secretary of State., Water Resources Act 1991

Where it appears to the appropriate agency that a licence under this Chapter should be revoked or varied, the appropriate agency may formulate proposals for revoking or varying the licence.

In the case of a licence to obstruct or impede any inland waters, a variation may take the form of a requirement that the impounding works be modified in ways specified in the proposed new provision of the licence.

Where—

it appears to the Secretary of State (either in consequence of representations made to the Secretary of State or otherwise) that a licence under this Chapter ought to be reviewed; but

no proposals for revoking or varying the licence have been formulated by the appropriate agency under subsection (1) above,

the Secretary of State may, as he may consider appropriate in the circumstances, give the appropriate agency a direction under subsection (3) below.

A direction under this subsection may—

direct the appropriate agency to formulate proposals for revoking the licence in question; or

direct the appropriate agency to formulate proposals for varying that licence in such manner as may be specified in the direction.

Notice in the prescribed form of any proposals formulated under this section with respect to any licence shall—

be served on the holder of the licence; and

be published in the prescribed way or (if no way is prescribed) in a way calculated to bring it to the attention of persons likely to be affected if the licence were revoked or varied as proposed.

If—

a licence with respect to which any proposals are formulated under this section relates to any inland waters; and

the proposals provide for variation of that licence,

a copy of the notice for the purposes of subsection (4) above shall, not later than the date on which it is first published as mentioned in subsection (4)(b) above, be served on any navigation authority, harbour authority or conservancy authority having functions in relation to those waters at a place where the licence, if varied in accordance with the proposals, would authorise water to be abstracted or impounded.

A notice for the purposes of subsection (4) above shall—

include any prescribed matters; and

state that, before the end of a period specified in the notice—

the holder of the licence may give notice in writing to the appropriate agency objecting to the proposals; and

any other person may make representations in writing to the appropriate agency with respect to the proposals.

The period referred to in subsection (6)(b) above—

begins on the date the notice referred to in subsection (4) above is first published as mentioned there; and

shall not end before the end of the period of twenty-eight days beginning with that date.

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Section 52: Proposals for modification at instance of the appropriate agency or Secretary of State.

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