The council of a county or county borough F1or in Scotland F2a F3general or district planning authority shall have power to provide, or secure the provision of, nature reserves on any land in their area (not being land held by, or managed in accordance with an agreement entered into with F7the appropriate conservation body) as to which it appears to the council expedient that it should be managed as a nature reserve.

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The foregoing provisions of this Part of this Act shall apply to the provision of nature reserves by local authorities under this section with the substitution for references to F9the appropriate conservation bodyF6, the F8Natural Resources Body for Wales or Scottish Natural Heritage of references to the local authority and as if theF11 references in subsection (1) of sections sixteen and seventeen respectively of this Act to the national interest included referencesF11 reference in subsection (1) of section 17 of this Act to the national interest were a reference to the interests of the locality.

A local authority may, as respects any land which is being managed as a nature reserve by the authority, enter into an agreement with any drainage authority for the exercise by the drainage authority, on such terms as to payment or otherwise as may be specified in the agreement, of any power of doing work exercisable by the local authority under the foregoing provisions of this section.

A local authority shall exercise their functions under this Part of this Act in consultation with F10the appropriate conservation body.

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