National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949

[F1 1 The Countryside Commission and the Countryside Council for Wales. E+W

(1) There shall be a [F2 Countryside Agency] which shall exercise functions in relation to England for the purposes specified in subsection (2) below; and the Countryside Council for Wales (established by section 128 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990) shall exercise corresponding functions in relation to Wales for the corresponding purposes specified in section 130(2) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

(2) The purposes for which the functions of [F3 the Agency] are exercisable are—

(a) the preservation and enhancement of natural beauty in England, both in the areas designated under this Act as National Parks or [F4 under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000]as areas of outstanding natural beauty and elsewhere;

(b) encouraging the provision or improvement, for persons resorting to National Parks, of facilities for the enjoyment thereof and for the enjoyment of the opportunities for open-air recreation and the study of nature afforded thereby.]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 1 headed “The Countryside Commission and the Countryside Council for Wales.” substituted (1.4.1991) by Environmental Protection Act 1990 (c. 43, SIF 46:4), s. 130(1), Sch. 8 para. 1(2); S.I. 1991/685, art. 3

F2 Words in s. 1(1) substituted (20.2.1999) by S.I. 1999/416, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 1(2)

F3 Words in s. 1(2) substituted (20.2.1999) by S.I. 1999/416, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 1(5)

F4 Words in s. 1(2)(a) inserted (1.4.2001 for E. and 1.5.2001 for W.) by 2000 c. 37, ss. 93, Sch. 15 Pt. I para. 1 (with s. 84(4)-(6)); S.I. 2001/114, art. 2(2)(e); S.I. 2001/1410, art. 2(g)