Control of Pollution Act 1974

73 Interpretation and other supplementary provisions. E+W

(1) Except where the context otherwise requires, in this Part of this Act—

• “contravention” includes a failure to comply with the provision in question, and “contravene” shall be construed accordingly;

• “local authority” means—

  (a)

  in England F1 . . . , the council of a district or a London borough, the Common Council of the City of London, the Sub-Treasurer of the Inner Temple and the Under Treasurer of the Middle Temple;

  (aa)

  [F2 in Wales, the council of a county or a county borough;] and

  (b)

  in Scotland, an islands or district council;

• “noise” includes vibration;

• “noise abatement order” and “noise abatement zone” have the meanings given by section 63 of this Act;

• “noise level register” has the meaning given by section 64(2) of this Act;

• “noise reduction notice” has the meaning given by section 66(3) of this Act;

• “person responsible”, in relation to the emission of noise, means the person to whose act, default or sufferance the noise is attributable;

• “statutory undertakers” means persons authorised by any enactment to carry on any railway, light railway, tramway, road transport, water transport, canal, inland navigation, dock, harbour, pier or lighthouse undertaking, or any undertaking for the supply of . . . F3 , . . . F4 , [F5 or hydraulic power], and includes [F6 a universal service provider (within the meaning of [F7 Part 3 of the Postal Services Act 2011]) in his capacity as a person who provides a universal postal service (within the meaning of [F8 that Part])];

• “work of engineering construction” means the construction, structural alteration, maintenance or repair of any railway line or siding or any dock, harbour, inland navigation, tunnel, bridge, viaduct, waterworks, reservoir, pipeline, aqueduct, sewer, sewage works or gasholder.

(2) The area of a local authority which includes part of the seashore shall also include for the purposes of this Part of this Act, except sections 62 to 67, the territorial sea lying seawards from that part of the shore; and—

F9 (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b) this Part of this Act (except sections 62 to 67 and this subsection) shall have effect, in relation to any area included in the area of a local authority by virtue of this subsection—

(i) As if references to premises and the occupier of premises included respectively a vessel and the master of a vessel, and

(ii) with such other modifications, if any, as are prescribed.

(3) Where more than one person is responsible for noise, this Part of this Act shall apply to each of those persons whether or not what any one of them is responsible for would by itself amount to a nuisance, or would result in a level of noise justifying action under this Part of this Act.

(4) This Part of this Act does not apply to noise caused by aircraft other than model aircraft and does not confer functions on port health authorities.

Extent Information

E1 This version of this provision extends to England and Wales only; a separate version has been created for Scotland.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 73(1): words in the definition of “local authority” repealed (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 19, ss. 22(3), 66(8), Sch. 9 para. 10(3), Sch. 18 (with ss. 54(4)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2)); S.I. 1996/396, arts. 3, 4, Schs. 1, 2

F2 S. 73(1): para. (aa) in the definition of “local authority” inserted (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 19, s. 22(3), Sch. 9 para. 10(3) (with ss. 54(4)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 para. 22(1), 23(2)); S.I. 1996/396, art. 3, Sch. 1

F3 Word repealed by Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29, SIF 44:1), s. 112(3)(4), Sch. 17 paras. 33, 35(1), Sch. 18

F4 “gas,” repealed by Gas Act 1986 (c. 44, SIF 44:2), s. 67(4), Sch. 9 Pt. I

F5 Words in s. 73(1) substituted (E.W.) by Water Act 1989 (c. 15, SIF 130), ss. 58(7), 101(1), 141(6), 160(1)(2)(4), 163, 189(4)–(10), 190, 193(1), Sch. 25 para. 48(8), Sch. 26 paras. 3(1)(2), 17, 40(4), 57(6), 58

F6 S. 73(1): By S.I. 2001/1149, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 38 it is provided (26.3.2001) that in the definition of “statutory undertakers” the words “a universal service provider (within the meaning of the Postal Services Act 2000) in his capacity as a person who provides a universal postal service (within the meaning of that Act)” shall be substituted for the words “the Post Office”

F7 Words in s. 73(1) substituted (1.10.2011) by Postal Services Act 2011 (c. 5), s. 93(2)(3), Sch. 12 para. 97(a); S.I. 2011/2329, art. 3

F8 Words in s. 73(1) substituted (1.10.2011) by Postal Services Act 2011 (c. 5), s. 93(2)(3), Sch. 12 para. 97(b); S.I. 2011/2329, art. 3

F9 S. 73(2)(a) repealed by Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 (c. 65), Sch. 34 Pt. II

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C10 S. 73 extended by Gas Act 1986 (c. 44, SIF 44:2), s. 67(1)(3), Sch. 7 para. 2(1)(xxix), Sch. 8 para. 33

s. 73 extended (1.3.1996) by 1995 c. 45, s. 16(1), Sch. 4 para. 2(1)(xxii); S.I. 1996/218, art. 2

73 Interpretation and other supplementary provisions. S

(1) Except where the context otherwise requires, in this Part of this Act—

• “contravention” includes a failure to comply with the provision in question, and “contravene” shall be construed accordingly;

• F10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• “local authority” means—

  (a)

  in England . . . F1 , the council of a district or a London borough, the Common Council of the City of London, the Sub-Treasurer of the Inner Temple and the Under Treasurer of the Middle Temple;

  (aa)

  [F2 in Wales, the council of a county or a county borough;] and

  (b)

  in Scotland, an islands or district council;

• “noise” includes vibration;

• F11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• F12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• F13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• F14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• F15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• “statutory undertakers” means persons authorised by any enactment to carry on any railway, light railway, tramway, road transport, water transport, canal, inland navigation, dock, harbour, pier or lighthouse undertaking, or any undertaking for the supply of . . . F3 , . . . F4 , [F5 or hydraulic power], and includes [F6 a universal service provider (within the meaning of [F7 Part 3 of the Postal Services Act 2011]) in his capacity as a person who provides a universal postal service (within the meaning of [F8 that Part])];

• “work of engineering construction” means the construction, structural alteration, maintenance or repair of any railway line or siding or any dock, harbour, inland navigation, tunnel, bridge, viaduct, waterworks, reservoir, pipeline, aqueduct, sewer, sewage works or gasholder.

(2) The area of a local authority which includes part of the seashore shall also include for the purposes of this Part of this Act, except [F16 section 62], the territorial sea lying seawards from that part of the shore; and—

F17 (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b) this Part of this Act (except [F16 section 62] and this subsection) shall have effect, in relation to any area included in the area of a local authority by virtue of this subsection—

(i) As if references to premises and the occupier of premises included respectively a vessel and the master of a vessel, and

(ii) with such other modifications, if any, as are prescribed.

(3) Where more than one person is responsible for noise, this Part of this Act shall apply to each of those persons whether or not what any one of them is responsible for would by itself amount to a nuisance, or would result in a level of noise justifying action under this Part of this Act . . . F18

[F19 (3A) In the definition of “statutory undertakers” in subsection (1), “enactment” includes an enactment comprised in, or in an instrument made under, an Act of the Scottish Parliament.]

(4) This Part of this Act does not apply to noise caused by aircraft other than model aircraft and does not confer functions on port health authorities.

Extent Information

E2 This version of this provision extends to Scotland only; a separate version has been created for England and Wales only.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 73(1): words in the definition of “local authority” repealed (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 19, ss. 22(3), 66(8), Sch. 9 para. 10(3), Sch. 18 (with ss. 54(4)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2)); S.I. 1996/396, arts. 3, 4, Schs. 1, 2

F2 S. 73(1): para. (aa) in the definition of “local authority” inserted (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 19, s. 22(3), Sch. 9 para. 10(3) (with ss. 54(4)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 para. 22(1), 23(2)); S.I. 1996/396, art. 3, Sch. 1

F3 Word repealed by Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29, SIF 44:1), s. 112(3)(4), Sch. 17 paras. 33, 35(1), Sch. 18

F4 “gas,” repealed by Gas Act 1986 (c. 44, SIF 44:2), s. 67(4), Sch. 9 Pt. I

F5 Words in s. 73(1) substituted (E.W.) by Water Act 1989 (c. 15, SIF 130), ss. 58(7), 101(1), 141(6), 160(1)(2)(4), 163, 189(4)–(10), 190, 193(1), Sch. 25 para. 48(8), Sch. 26 paras. 3(1)(2), 17, 40(4), 57(6), 58

F6 S. 73(1): By S.I. 2001/1149, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 38 it is provided (26.3.2001) that in the definition of “statutory undertakers” the words “a universal service provider (within the meaning of the Postal Services Act 2000) in his capacity as a person who provides a universal postal service (within the meaning of that Act)” shall be substituted for the words “the Post Office”

F7 Words in s. 73(1) substituted (1.10.2011) by Postal Services Act 2011 (c. 5), s. 93(2)(3), Sch. 12 para. 97(a); S.I. 2011/2329, art. 3

F8 Words in s. 73(1) substituted (1.10.2011) by Postal Services Act 2011 (c. 5), s. 93(2)(3), Sch. 12 para. 97(b); S.I. 2011/2329, art. 3

F10 S. 73(1): definition of “equipment” repealed (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s. 120(3), Sch. 24 (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 3

F11 Words in s. 73(1) repealed (30.6.2014) by Regulatory Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 (asp 3), s. 61(2), Sch. 3 para. 16(7)(a)(i); S.S.I. 2014/160, art. 2(1)(2), Sch.

F12 Words in s. 73(1) repealed (30.6.2014) by Regulatory Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 (asp 3), s. 61(2), Sch. 3 para. 16(7)(a)(ii); S.S.I. 2014/160, art. 2(1)(2), Sch.

F13 Words in s. 73(1) repealed (30.6.2014) by Regulatory Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 (asp 3), s. 61(2), Sch. 3 para. 16(7)(a)(iii); S.S.I. 2014/160, art. 2(1)(2), Sch.

F14 Words in s. 73(1) repealed (30.6.2014) by Regulatory Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 (asp 3), s. 61(2), Sch. 3 para. 16(7)(a)(iv); S.S.I. 2014/160, art. 2(1)(2), Sch.

F15 S. 73(1): definition of “road noise” repealed (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s. 120(3), Sch. 24 (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 3

F16 Words in s. 73(2) substituted (S.) (30.6.2014) by Regulatory Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 (asp 3), s. 61(2), Sch. 3 para. 16(7)(b); S.S.I. 2014/160, art. 2(1)(2), Sch.

F17 S. 73(2)(a) repealed by Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 (c. 65), Sch. 34 Pt. II

F18 Words in s. 73(3) repealed (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s. 120(3), Sch. 24 (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 3

F19 S. 73(3A) inserted (S.) (30.6.2014) by Regulatory Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 (asp 3), s. 61(2), Sch. 3 para. 39(2); S.S.I. 2014/160, art. 2(1)(2), Sch.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C11 S. 73 extended by Gas Act 1986 (c. 44, SIF 44:2), s. 67(1)(3), Sch. 7 para. 2(1)(xxix), Sch. 8 para. 33

C12 S. 73 extended (1.3.1996) by 1995 c. 45, s. 16(1), Sch. 4 para. 2(1)(xxii); S.I. 1996/218, art. 2