(1)Subject to the provisions of this section, no person shall, without the consent of the local authority,—
(a)make any structural alteration in any designated premises; or
(b)remove or alter any works executed by, or by arrangement with, the local authority in or on any designated premises, any building of which designated premises form part, or any building or land adjacent to any designated premises :
Provided that, if the local authority refuse their consent or do not give their consent within six weeks from the date on which application is made therefor, the applicant may appeal to a court of quarter sessions, and the court on the hearing of the appeal may authorise any alteration or removal desired by the applicant.
(2)Any person who contravenes the provisions of the preceding subsection shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds :
Provided that no person shall be convicted of an offence under this section in relation to any designated premises if he proves that he did not know, and had no reasonable grounds for suspecting, that the premises were designated premises.
(3)Where the court by which a person is convicted of an offence under this section is satisfied that the contravention constituting the offence has rendered the designated premises in question unsuitable, or less suitable, for the public purposes for which they may be required, it may order that the local authority shall be at liberty to charge to the person convicted their reasonable expenses of again rendering the premises as suitable for those purposes as they would have been if the contravention had not taken place, and where such an order is made any such expenses of the local authority shall be recoverable by them from the person convicted as a debt.