Textual Amendments
F1Ss. 22A-22F and preceding cross-heading inserted (1.10.2004 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.4.2005) by Water Act 2003 (c. 37), ss. 48(1), 105(3); S.I. 2004/2528, art. 2(e) (with savings in art. 4); S.I. 2005/968, art. 2(i) (with savings in art. 4, Sch. 1, 2)
(1)If the company on which a penalty is imposed is aggrieved by—
(a)the imposition of the penalty;
(b)the amount of the penalty; or
(c)the date by which the penalty is required to be paid, or the different dates by which different portions of the penalty are required to be paid,
the company may make an application to the court under this section.
(2)An application under subsection (1) above must be made—
(a)within forty-two days from the date of service on the company of a notice under section 22A(6) above; or
(b)where the application relates to a decision of an enforcement authority on an application by the company under section 22A(7) above, within forty-two days from the date the company is notified of the decision.
(3)On any such application, where the court considers it appropriate to do so in all the circumstances of the case and is satisfied of one or more of the grounds falling within subsection (4) below, the court—
(a)may quash the penalty;
(b)may substitute a penalty of such lesser amount as the court considers appropriate in all the circumstances of the case; or
(c)in the case of an application under subsection (1)(c) above, may substitute for the date or dates imposed by the enforcement authority an alternative date or dates.
(4)The grounds falling within this subsection are—
(a)that the imposition of the penalty was not within the power of the enforcement authority under section 22A above;
(b)that any of the requirements of subsections (4) to (6) or (8) of section 22A above have not been complied with in relation to the imposition of the penalty and the interests of the company have been substantially prejudiced by the non-compliance; or
(c)that it was unreasonable of the enforcement authority to require the penalty imposed, or any portion of it, to be paid by the date or dates by which it was required to be paid.
(5)If an application is made under this section in relation to a penalty, the penalty is not required to be paid until the application has been determined.
(6)Where the court substitutes a penalty of a lesser amount it may require the payment of interest on the substituted penalty at such rate, and from such date, as it considers just and equitable.
(7)Where the court specifies as a date by which the penalty, or a portion of the penalty, is to be paid a date before the determination of the application under this section it may require the payment of interest on the penalty, or portion, from that date at such rate as it considers just and equitable.
(8)Except as provided by this section, the validity of a penalty shall not be questioned by any legal proceedings whatever.
(9)In this section “the court” means the High Court.]