Water Act 1989

Actions against the Authority in respect of rights protected by licences under paragraph 30 or 31

33 (1) Section 50(2) of the 1963 Act (action against the Authority where Authority acts on direction of the Secretary of State) shall not apply to a direction given in consequence of an appeal against the decision of the Authority on an application for the grant of a licence under that Act by virtue of paragraph 30 or 31 above.

(2) Where the plaintiff in any action brought against the Authority at any time after the transfer date in pursuance of section 50(1) of the 1963 Act (action in respect of licences derogating from protected rights) is entitled to a protected right under the 1963 Act by reason only that he is the holder of a licence granted by virtue of paragraph 30 or 31 above or has applied for a licence to be so granted, it shall be a defence for the Authority to show—

(a) that the plaintiff could have carried out permissible alterations in the means whereby he abstracted water from the source of supply in question; and

(b) that, if he had carried out such alterations, the abstraction (or, as the case may be, the obstruction or impeding of the flow of the inland water) authorised by the licence to which the action relates would not have derogated from his protected right under that Act.

(3) In sub-paragraph (2) above “permissible alterations”—

(a) in relation to a person who is the holder of a licence granted by virtue of paragraph 30 or 31 above, means any alteration of works, or modification of machinery or apparatus, which would fulfil the requirements of the licence as to the means whereby water is authorised to be abstracted;

(b) in relation to a person who is not the holder of such a licence but has applied for one as being entitled to it by virtue of that paragraph, means any alteration of the works, or modification of the machinery or apparatus, by means of which he abstracted water from the source of supply in question during the period of five years ending with the transfer date, being an alteration or modification which would be within the scope of the licence if granted in accordance with the application.