Land Drainage Act 1991

51 Other appeals against drainage rates

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, if any person, as occupier of any hereditament in a drainage district, is aggrieved, upon any ground other than a ground upon which he might have appealed in pursuance of section 45 above—

(a) by a drainage rate; or

(b) by an amendment of a drainage rate,

he may appeal against the rate, or the rate as amended, to the Crown Court.

(2) Notice of appeal under this section, specifying the grounds of the appeal, must be given within twenty-eight days after, as the case may be—

(a) the date on which the rate is made; or

(b) the date on which notice of the amendment is served on the appellant,

to the Crown Court, to the internal drainage board in question and also, if the appeal relates to a hereditament not in the occupation of the appellant, to the occupier of that hereditament.

(3) On an appeal under this section, the Crown Court shall, as it thinks just, either confirm the rate or annul or modify it.

(4) The appellant and the respondent to an appeal under this section may agree in writing to refer the matter in dispute to the arbitration of such person as may be agreed between them or, in default of agreement, as may be appointed by the relevant Minister.

(5) In the event of a reference under subsection (4) above, the costs of and incidental to the hearing before the arbitrator and his award shall be in the discretion of the arbitrator and, if not agreed by the parties, shall be taxed as part of the costs of the appeal to the Crown Court.