The Commons Act 2006 (Commencement No.1, Transitional Provisions and Savings) (Wales) Order 2007

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order commences certain provisions of the Commons Act 2006 (“the 2006 Act”) in relation to Wales.

Article 2 of this Order brings into force, on the day after the day on which this Order is made, a number of provisions for the limited purpose of enabling the Welsh Ministers to give guidance or directions and to make, or to make provision by means of, regulations.

Article 3 of this Order brings into force on 6 September 2007 the provisions of the 2006 Act cited in that article.

Article 4 of this Order contains transitional and saving provisions relating to the provisions brought into force by article 3 of this Order.

Amongst other things, this Order brings into force section 15 of the 2006 Act, which makes new provision about the registration of land in Wales as a town or village green, and contains transitional and saving provisions which—

(a) require, until section 1 of the 2006 Act is brought into force in relation to the relevant area, a green registered under section 15 of the 2006 Act to be entered in the registers maintained under the Commons Registration Act 1965 (“the 1965 Act”);

(b) ensure that the existing provisions for registration of new greens and common land under section 13(b) of the 1965 Act remain effective in certain cases (such as on an exchange of land consequential on a compulsory purchase order); and

(c) preserve any application to register a green made under the 1965 Act before 6 September 2007, so that such applications must be determined under the 1965 Act.

Further information on the provisions brought into force by this Order can be found in the Explanatory Notes to the Commons Act 2006, which can be viewed at www.opsi.gov.uk.