Tidal works not to be executed without approval of Secretary of State
23.—(1) Unless its construction has commenced within 5 years of the coming into force of this Order, no tidal work is to be constructed, altered or relaid except in accordance with plans and sections approved by the Secretary of State and subject to any conditions and restrictions imposed by the Secretary of State before that work is begun.
(2) If a tidal work is constructed, altered or relaid in contravention of paragraph (1) or of any condition or restriction imposed under that paragraph—
(a)the Secretary of State may by notice in writing require the undertaker at its own expense to remove the tidal work or any part of it and restore the site to its former condition; and, if on the expiration of 30 days beginning with the date when the notice is served on the undertaker it has failed to take reasonable steps to comply with the requirements of the notice, the Secretary of State may take whatever steps the Secretary of State considers appropriate to achieve the result required by the notice; or
(b)if it appears to the Secretary of State urgently necessary so to do, the Secretary of State may remove the tidal work, or part of it, and restore the site to its former condition,
and any expenditure incurred by the Secretary of State in doing so is recoverable from the undertaker.