Merchant Shipping Act 1995

197 General powers of general lighthouse authority

(1) Subject to subsection (2) below, a general lighthouse authority shall, within their area, have power—

(a) to erect or place any lighthouse, with all requisite works, roads and appurtenances;

(b) to add to, alter, or remove any lighthouse;

(c) to erect or place any buoy or beacon, or alter or remove any buoy or beacon;

(d) to vary the character of any lighthouse or the mode of exhibiting lights therein.

(2) A general lighthouse authority shall not in the area of a harbour authority—

(a) erect or place any lighthouse, works, roads or appurtenances under subsection (1)(a) above, or

(b) erect or place any buoy or beacon under subsection (1)(c) above,

except in pursuance of a direction given by the Secretary of State.

(3) The Secretary of State may give such a direction to a general lighthouse authority if he considers it appropriate to do so in the interests of general navigation.

(4) Where any improved light or beacon, or any siren or any description of fog signal has been added to an existing lighthouse, the light or beacon, siren or signal may, for the purposes of this Part, be treated as if it were a separate lighthouse.

(5) A general lighthouse authority may acquire any land which may be necessary for—

(a) the exercise of their powers under subsection (1) above;

(b) the maintenance of their works; or

(c) the residence of the light keepers.

(6) For the purposes of the acquisition of land by a general lighthouse authority under subsection (5) above the following provisions shall apply—

(a) if the land is in England and Wales, the provisions of Part I of the [1965 c. 56.] Compulsory Purchase Act 1965 (so far as applicable) except sections 4 to 8, 27 and 31;

(b) if the land is in Scotland, the provisions of the Lands Clauses Acts (so far as applicable) except sections 120 to 125, 127, 142 and 143 of the [1845 c. 18.] Lands Clauses Consolidation (Scotland) Act 1845;

(c) if the land is in Northern Ireland, the provisions of the Lands Clauses Acts (so far as applicable) except sections 16 to 20, 92 to 94, 123, 127 to 132, 150 and 151 of the [1845 c. 19.] Lands Clauses Consolidation Act 1845.

(7) A general lighthouse authority may sell any land belonging to them.