Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979

15 Acquisition and guardianship of land in the vicinity of an ancient monument

(1) References in sections 10 to 12 of this Act to an ancient monument shall include references to any land adjoining or in the vicinity of an ancient monument which appears to the Secretary of State or a local authority to be reasonably required for any of the following purposes, that is to say—

(a) the maintenance of the monument or its amenities;

(b) providing or facilitating access to the monument;

(c) the exercise of proper control or management with respect to the monument;

(d) the storage of equipment or materials for the purpose mentioned in paragraph (a) above ; and

(e) the provision of facilities and services for the public for or in connection with affording public access to the monument;

(and one of those purposes shall accordingly be sufficient to support the compulsory acquisition of any such land under section 10(1) of this Act, instead of the purpose there mentioned).

(2) Land may be acquired or taken into guardianship by virtue of this section for any of the purposes relating to an ancient monument mentioned in subsection (1) above either at the same time as the monument or subsequently.

(3) The Secretary of State and any local authority shall have full control and management of any land which is under their guardianship by virtue of this Act after being taken into guardianship by virtue of this section for a purpose relating to any ancient monument, and shall have power to do all such things as may be necessary—

(a) for the exercise by them of proper control and management with respect to the land ; and

(b) for the use of the land for any of the purposes relating to the monument mentioned in subsection (1) above.

(4) The Secretary of State and any local authority may at any reasonable time enter any land which is under their guardianship by virtue of this Act for the purpose of exercising their power under subsection (3) above (and may authorise any other person to do so, and to exercise that power, on their behalf).

(5) Section 14(1) and (2) of this Act shall apply in relation to any land taken into guardianship by virtue of this section for any purpose relating to an ancient monument as they apply in relation to a monument, but, apart from any termination of guardianship by virtue of that section, any such land shall also cease to be under guardianship if the monument in question ceases to be under guardianship otherwise than by virtue of being acquired by its guardians or ceases to exist.

(6) References below in this Act, in relation to any monument of which the Secretary of State or a local authority are the owners or guardians by virtue of this Act, to land associated with that monument (or to associated land) are references to any land acquired or taken into guardianship by virtue, of this section for a purpose relating to that monument, or appropriated for any such purpose under a power conferred by any other enactment.