178.—(1) Where any steps required by a hazardous substances contravention notice to be taken are not taken within the period for compliance with the notice, the hazardous substances authority may—
(a)enter the land and take the steps; and
(b)recover from the person who is then the owner of the land any expenses reasonably incurred by them in doing so.
(2) Where a copy of a hazardous substances contravention notice has been served in respect of any contravention of hazardous substances control—
(a)any expenses incurred by the owner or occupier of any land for the purpose of complying with the notice, and
(b)any sums paid by the owner of any land under subsection (1) in respect of expenses incurred by the hazardous substances authority in taking steps required by such a notice to be taken,
shall be deemed to be incurred or paid for the use and at the request of the person by whom the contravention of hazardous substances control was committed.
(3) Regulations made under this Act may provide that—
(a)section 276 of the Public Health Act 1936, (power of local authorities to sell materials removed in executing works under that Act subject to accounting for the proceeds of sale);
(b)section 289 of that Act (power to require the occupier of any premises to permit works to be executed by the owner of the premises); and
(c)section 294 of that Act (limit on liability of persons holding premises as agents or trustees in respect of the expenses recoverable under that Act),
shall apply, subject to such adaptations and modifications as may be specified in the regulations, in relation to any steps required to be taken by a hazardous substances contravention notice.
(4) Regulations under subsection (3) applying section 289 of the Public Health Act 1936 may include adaptations and modifications for the purpose of giving the owner of land to which a hazardous substances contravention notice relates the right, as against all other persons interested in the land, to comply with the requirements of the hazardous substances contravention notice.
(5) Regulations under subsection (3) may also provide for the charging on the land of any expenses recoverable by a hazardous substances authority under subsection (1).
(6) Any person who wilfully obstructs a person acting in the exercise of powers under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.
(7) Where different periods are specified for different steps under section 24(5)(b) of the Planning (Hazardous Substances) Act 1990 in relation to a hazardous substances contravention notice, references in this section and in section 179 to the period for compliance with a hazardous substances contravention notice, in relation to any step, are to the period at the end of which the step is required to have been taken.