49.—(1) Where proceedings are brought under section 82(1) (summary proceedings by person aggrieved by statutory nuisance) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990(1) in relation to a nuisance falling within paragraph (g) of section 79(1) (noise emitted from premises so as to be prejudicial to health or a nuisance) of that Act, no order may be made, and no fine imposed, under section 82(2) of that Act if the defendant shows—
(a)that the nuisance relates to premises used by the undertaker for the purposes of or in connection with the exercise of the powers conferred by this Order with respect to works and that the nuisance is attributable to the carrying out of works which are being carried out in accordance with a notice served under section 60 (control of noise on construction sites), or a consent given under section 61(2) (prior consent for work on construction sites), of the Control of Pollution Act 1974(3); or
(b)that the nuisance is a consequence of the operation or maintenance of the authorised transit system and that it cannot reasonably be avoided.
(2) Section 61(9) (consent for work on construction site to include statement that it does not of itself constitute a defence to proceedings under section 82 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990) of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 does not apply where the consent relates to the use of premises by the undertaker for the purposes of or in connection with the exercise of the powers conferred by this Order with respect to works.
(3) The provisions of this article do not affect any rule of common law having similar effect.
Section 61 was amended by Schedule 7 to the Building Act 1984 (c. 55), paragraph 15(3) of Schedule 15 to the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (c. 43), Schedule 24 to the Environment Act 1995 and paragraph 10 of Schedule 6 to the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp. 8).