Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

57 Supplementary provisions as to definitive maps and statements. E+W

(1) An order under the foregoing provisions of this Part shall be in such form as may be prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State, and shall contain a map, [F1 on such scale as may be so prescribed,] showing the modifications to which the order relates.

(2) Regulations made by the Secretary of State may prescribe the scale on which maps are to be prepared under [F2 subsection (1) or any other provision of this Part], and the method of showing in definitive maps and statements anything which is required to be so shown.

(3) Where, in the case of a definitive map and statement for any area which have been modified in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Part, it appears to the surveying authority expedient to do so, they may prepare a copy of that map and statement as so modified; and where they do so, the map and statement so prepared, and not the map and statement so modified, shall be regarded for the purposes of the foregoing provisions of this Part [F3 , and for the purposes of section 57A(1),] as the definitive map and statement for that area.

[F4 (3A) Where as respects any definitive map and statement the requirements of section 53(2), and of section 55 so far as it applies, have been complied with, the map and statement are to be regarded for the purposes of subsection (3) as having been modified in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Part whether or not, as respects the map and statement, the requirements of section 54 have been complied with.]

(4) The statement prepared under subsection (3) shall specify, as the relevant date for the purposes of the map, such date, not being earlier than six months before the preparation of the map and statement, as the authority may determine.

(5) As regards every definitive map and statement, the surveying authority shall keep—

(a) a copy of the map and statement; and

(b) copies of all orders under this Part modifying the map and statement,

available for inspection free of charge at all reasonable hours at one or more places in each district comprised in the area to which the map and statement relate and, so far as appears practicable to the surveying authority, a place in each parish so comprised; and the authority shall be deemed to comply with the requirement to keep such copies available for inspection in a district or parish if they keep available for inspection there a copy of so much of the map and statement and copies of so many of the orders as relate to the district or parish.

[F5 (5A) Subsection (5) shall apply in relation to land in Wales as if “in each district comprised” were omitted.]

(6) Notwithstanding anything in subsection (5), an authority shall not be required to keep available for inspection more than one copy of—

(a) any definitive map and statement; or

(b) each order under this Part modifying the map and statement,

if, as respects the area to which that map and statement relate, a subsequent map and statement have been prepared under subsection (3); and the said single copies may be kept in such place in the area of the authority as they may determine.

[F6 (6A) In subsection (1), the reference to an order under the foregoing provisions of this Part includes a reference to so much of an order to which section 53A applies as contains provision made by virtue of subsection (2) of that section; and subsections (5) and (6) apply to—

(a) orders to which section 53A applies modifying the map and statement, and

(b) such documents relating to them as may be prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State,

as those subsections apply to orders under this Part modifying the map and statement.

(6B) Regulations under paragraph (b) of subsection (6A) may require any document to be prepared by a surveying authority for the purposes of that paragraph, and any such document shall be in such form as may be prescribed by the regulations.

(6C) Regulations made by the Secretary of State may require any surveying authority—

(a) to keep such other documents as may be prescribed by the regulations available for inspection at such times and places and in such manner as may be so prescribed, or

(b) to provide to any other surveying authority any document so prescribed which that authority is, by regulations under paragraph (a), required to keep available for inspection.]

(7) Every surveying authority shall take such steps as they consider expedient for bringing to the attention of the public the provisions of this Part including, in particular, section 53(5) and subsection (5).

(8) Regulations under this section shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 57(1) repealed (2.5.2006 for E. and otherwise prosp.) by 2000 c. 37, ss. 51, 102, 103(3), Sch. 5 Pt. I para. 7(2), Sch. 16 Pt. II; S.I. 2006/1172, art. 2

F2 Words in s. 57(2) substituted (2.5.2006 for E. and otherwise prosp.) by 2000 c. 37, ss. 51, 103(3), Sch. 5 Pt. I para. 7(3); S.I. 2006/1172, art. 2

F3 Words in s. 57(3) inserted (2.5.2006 for E. and otherwise prosp.) by 2000 c. 37, ss. 51, 103(3), Sch. 5 Pt. I para. 7(4); S.I. 2006/1172, art. 2

F4 S. 57(3A) inserted (2.5.2006 for E. and 11.5.2006 for W.) by 2000 c. 37, ss. 51, 103(3), Sch. 5 Pt. I para. 7(5); S.I. 2006/1172, art. 2

F5 S. 57(5A) inserted (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 19, s. 66(6), Sch. 16 para. 65(7) (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2)); S.I. 1996/396, art. 4, Sch. 2

F6 S. 57(6A)(6B)(6C) inserted (2.5.2006 for E. and otherwise prosp.) by 2000 c. 37, ss. 51, 103(3), Sch. 5 Pt. I para. 7(6); S.I. 2006/1172, art. 2