The Water Protection Zone (River Dee Catchment) Designation Order 1999

Transitional exemption from contravention proceedings

7.—(1) Where an application or claim for protection zone consent for a controlled activity is made on or before the expiry of six months after the date on which this Order comes into force, in accordance with regulation 5 of the 1999 Regulations or article 6 of this Order, as the case may be, no offence is committed under article 5 of this Order in relation to that activity until the application or claim is disposed of.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1) an application under the 1999 Regulations is disposed of on the date on which the protection zone consent applied for is granted or if the application is refused the date on which—

(a) the period for appealing expires without an appeal being made; or

(b) any appeal is withdrawn or finally determined.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (1) a claim under article 6 of this Order is disposed of either at the expiry of the period of 6 weeks beginning with the date of the claim or, if the Agency informs the claimant that the claim is invalid under article 6(5), the date of that notification whichever is the earlier.