(1)The Secretary of State may—
(a)in the case of any National Park for which there is an existing authority, or
(b)in connection with the designation of any area as a new such Park,
by order establish an authority (to be known as “a National Park authority”) to carry out in relation to that Park the functions conferred on such an authority by or under this Part.
(2)An order under this section may provide, in relation to any National Park for which there is an existing authority—
(a)for the existing authority to cease to have any functions in relation to that Park as from the time when a National Park authority becomes the local planning authority for that Park;
(b)for such (if any) of the functions of the existing authority as, by virtue of this Part, are not as from that time to be functions of the National Park authority for that Park to become functions of the person on whom they would be conferred if the area in question were not in a National Park; and
(c)for the winding up of the existing authority and for that authority to cease to exist, or to be dissolved, as from such time as may be specified in the order.
(3)Subject to any order under subsection (4) below, where there is a variation of the area of a National Park for which there is or is to be a National Park authority, the Park for which that authority is or is to be the authority shall be deemed, as from the time when the variation takes effect, to be that area as varied.
(4)Where provision is made for the variation of the area of a National Park for which there is or is to be a National Park authority, the Secretary of State may by order make such transitional provision as he thinks fit with respect to—
(a)any functions which, in relation to any area that becomes part of the National Park, are by virtue of the variation to become functions of that authority; and
(b)any functions which, in relation to any area that ceases to be part of the National Park, are by virtue of the variation to become functions of a person other than that authority.
(5)Schedule 7 to this Act shall have effect with respect to National Park authorities.