Clause 20 - Register of certain protected rights
Water Bill [Lords]
2:30 pm
Ms Sue Doughty (Guildford, Liberal Democrat)
I beg to move amendment No. 196, in
clause 20, page 23, line 22, at end insert—
'(f) a duty for the Agency to publicise the procedure and expiry date for applying for a protected right to be included in the register.'.
We are concerned about information being made available to people. We are worried that people could miss the boat by applying too late. They might not realise that they have apply for their protected rights to be on the register. People have a time-limited window, and it is essential that they are informed that they might lose their right if they do apply. There is no problem for people who are actively abstracting and using their right; they will probably be aware of the
requirement and will talk to the agency, so information will come through.
People who have not used their protected rights for more than two years may be less likely to think about making that application in time. Because of the changes in agriculture and farming practices and the current problems of countryside businesses, people might decide to diversify and develop an area of water as a fishing feature, for example. It seems logical that the two-year period should be changed, in line with the four-year limit for the non-use of the protected rights. We therefore say that the limit should be four years on one side and four on the other, so that people can ensure that they make their application. It is a matter of sweeping in all the people who should be aware of the provision, some of whom, because they are not using their rights at the time, may not have been keeping their eye on the ball.