(1)Where a person (“the applicant”) intends to renew the appointment of a river watcher, he shall, not less than 6 weeks before the date on which the appointment is to cease to have effect, serve a notice, in such form and containing such particulars as may be prescribed, on—
(a)the clerk of petty sessions; and
(b)the Commission.
(2)Where the Commission objects to the renewal of the appointment of a river watcher, it shall, within 21 days of receiving a notice under subsection (1), notify the applicant and the clerk of petty sessions of its objection and of the grounds thereof.
(3)Where, within the time specified in subsection (2), the clerk of petty sessions has received no notice of an objection under that subsection, he shall confirm the appointment and endorse the instrument of appointment to that effect.
(4)Where the Commission notifies the applicant that there is an objection to the renewal of the appointment, the applicant may apply to the appropriate court for confirmation of the renewal of the appointment and Part VII of the Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 shall apply to any such application as if it were an application referred to in Article 76(1)(b) of that Order.
(5)The confirmation of the renewal of the appointment of a person as a river watcher pursuant to an application under subsection (4) shall be effected by the resident magistrate endorsing the instrument of appointment.
(6)Where the appointment of a person as a river watcher has been renewed under this section, the clerk of petty sessions shall notify the Commission of that renewal as soon as practicable.]
F1Ss. 55A, 55B inserted (1.6.2008) by Foyle and Carlingford Fisheries (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/915 (N.I. 9)), arts. 1(3), 20(2) (with art. 32); S.R. 2008/232, art. 2, Sch.