Repair of landing places, etc.
38.—(1) In this article, “relevant feature” means any landing place, jetty, wall, embankment, bridge, structure or other work in the harbour or on land immediately adjoining the waters of the harbour other than a relevant feature under the control or management of the Council.
(2) The Council may by notice require the owner or occupier of a relevant feature which in the opinion of the Council is, or is likely to become, by reason of its insecure condition or want of repair—
(a)dangerous to persons or vessels using the harbour; or
(b)a hindrance to the navigation of the harbour, to remedy its condition to the Council’s reasonable satisfaction within a reasonable time (not being less than 21 days) specified in the notice.
(3) If a person to whom notice is given under this article fails without reasonable excuse to comply with the notice within the time stated in the notice or such other time as the Secretary of State on an appeal may substitute therefor—
(a)that person shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale; and
(b)the Council may carry out the work required by the notice and may recover the expenses of so doing from the person on whom the notice was served.
(4) A notice under this article shall have annexed to it a copy of this article.
(5) A person aggrieved by a notice served by the Council under this article may, during the period of 21 days beginning with the date on which the notice was served, appeal to the Secretary of State against the notice.
(6) An appeal under paragraph (5) above shall be made by notice in writing stating the grounds of the appeal.
(7) A person who appeals under paragraph (5) above shall give to the Council notice of the appeal accompanied by a copy of the statement of appeal; and the Council shall, within 21 days of receipt of the notice, be entitled to furnish to the Secretary of State its observations on the appeal.
(8) On an appeal under paragraph (5) above, the Secretary of State shall either quash the notice, modify its requirements or dismiss the appeal.