Countryside Act 1968

8 Country parks: sailing, boating, bathing and fishing. E+W

(1) Without prejudice to the generality of section 7(2) of this Act, where a country park comprises any waterway the kinds of open-air recreation for which the local authority may provide facilities and services under that subsection shall include sailing, boating, bathing and fishing.

(2) If a country park is bounded by the sea, or by any waterway which is not part of the sea, the local authority providing the country park shall have power to carry out such work and do such other things as may appear to them necessary or expedient for facilitating the use of the waters so adjoining the country park by the public for sailing, boating, bathing and fishing and other forms of recreation.

(3) The powers conferred by subsections (1) and (2) above include power to erect buildings or carry out works on land adjoining the sea or other waters but outside the country park, and to construct jetties or other works wholly or partly in the sea or other waters.

(4) The local authority, before acting under the foregoing provisions of this section, shall consult with, and seek the consent [F1 of, the National Rivers Authority and such] authorities, being authorities which under any enactment have functions relating to the sea or other waters in question, as the Minister may either generally or in any particular case direct, and Schedule 1 to this Act shall have effect where any authority so consulted withhold their consent.

(5) A local authority may make byelaws regulating the use of works carried out by them pursuant to this section and of any facilities or services provided in connection with the works, but before making any such byelaws the local authority shall consult the [F2 Agency][F3 (if the works are in England) or the Council (if the works are in Wales)]:

Provided that byelaws made under this subsection shall not interfere with the exercise of any functions relating to the waters or land to which the byelaws apply which are exercisable by any authority under any enactment.

Section 106 of the Act of 1949 (supplementary provisions as to byelaws) shall have effect as if byelaws under this subsection were byelaws under that Act.

(6) Nothing in this section shall authorise the carrying out of any operation in contravention of section 34 of the M1 Coast Protection Act 1949 (works detrimental to navigation) or section 9 of the M2 Harbours Act 1964 (control of harbour development).

Textual Amendments

F1 Words substituted by Water Act 1989 (c. 15, SIF 130), ss. 58(7), 101(1), 141(6), 160(1)(2)(4), 163, 189(4)—(10), 190, 193(1), Sch. 25 para. 37(1), Sch. 26 paras. 3(1)(2), 17, 40(4), 57(6), 58

F2 Words in s. 8 substituted (20.02.1999) by S.I. 1999/416, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 4(5)

F3 Words in s. 8(5) inserted (1. 4. 1991) by Environmental Protection Act 1990 (c. 43, SIF 46:4), s. 130, Sch. 8 para. 2(5); S.I. 1991/685, art. 3.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Ss. 6-8 extended (19.9.1995) by 1995 c. 25, ss. 70, 125(2), Sch. 9 para. 5(a) (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117, Sch. 8 para. 7)

Marginal Citations

M1 1949 c. 74.

M2 1964 c. 40.