Water Resources Act 1991

9 (1) The [F1 Agency] may serve on any person appearing to it to be the occupier of any land a notice requiring him to furnish a return under sub-paragraph (2) below to the [F1 Agency] within twenty-eight days beginning with the date of service of the notice on him. E+W

(2) The return required of a person by a notice under sub-paragraph (1) above is a return, in writing and in such form as may be specified in the notice, containing such particulars as may reasonably be required for the purpose of enabling the [F1 Agency] to determine—

(a) how much (if any) of the land occupied by that person is chargeable land; and

(b) how much (if any) consists of commercial woodlands.

(3) If any person on whom notice has been served under sub-paragraph (1) above—

(a) fails without reasonable excuse to comply with the notice;

(b) in a return made in pursuance of such a notice, makes any statement which he knows to be false in a material particular; or

(c) in any such return recklessly makes any statement which is false in a material particular,

he shall be guilty of an offence

(4) A person guilty of an offence under sub-paragraph (3) above shall be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale; and a person convicted by virtue of paragraph (a) of that sub-paragraph shall be liable to a further conviction by virtue of that paragraph if, after conviction, he continues without reasonable excuse [F2 to fail] to comply with the notice in question.

(5) This paragraph shall be without prejudice to the provisions of Part VIII of this Act.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in Sch. 15 para. 9 substituted (subject to other provisions of the amending Act) (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s. 120, Sch. 22 para. 128 (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 3

F2 Words in Sch. 15 para. 9(4) inserted (21.9.1995) by 1995 c. 25, s. 120(1), Sch. 22 para. 187(1) (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1995/1983, art. 3