6.—(1) If, during the construction of any specified work, or within 10 years after the completion of such work, there is caused or created an accumulation or erosion or an alteration to tidal flow which in whole or in part is reasonably attributable to the construction of such work and which causes damage or reasonable expectation of damage, the Council shall, if so required by the Agency before or within the period of 10 years after such completion and to the extent that it is so attributable, remedy such accumulation or erosion or alteration to tidal flow in the manner specified in sub-paragraph (4) and, if it refuses to do so, the Agency may itself cause such remedy to be carried out and may recover the reasonable cost of so doing from the Council.
(2) Should any accumulation or erosion or alteration of tidal flow arise which causes such damage or reasonable expectation of damage arise within the said period of 10 years and be required to be remedied in accordance with sub-paragraph (1), any continuation or recurrence of such accumulation or erosion shall to the extent that it is reasonably attributable to the construction or operation of any specified work be so remedied by the Council during the said period of 10 years and at any time thereafter, save that the Council’s obligation under this sub-paragraph shall cease in the event that following the remedying of any accumulation or erosion or alteration of tidal flow a period of 10 years elapses without any further accumulation or erosion or alteration of the tidal flow.
(3) In sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) and in paragraph 7(5) “damage” means any damage or any adverse effect upon the structure or operation of any outfall, flood or sea defences or any jetty or other structure under the jurisdiction of the Agency for the purposes of the Water Resources Act 1991(1).
(4) For the purposes of sub-paragraphs (1) and (2)—
(a)in the case of an accumulation, the remedy shall be its removal or such other protective works or measures as may reasonably be required by the Agency;
(b)in the case of erosion or alteration of tidal flow, the remedy shall be the carrying out of such reconstruction works and protective works or measures as may reasonably be required by the Agency.
(5) To the extent that the Council establishes by surveys, inspections, tests or sampling that such accumulation or erosion or alteration of tidal flow referred to in paragraphs (1) or (2) would have been caused in any event by factors other than the construction or operation of a specified work, the Council shall not be liable to remedy such accumulation or erosion or alteration of tidal flow.
(6) In carrying out any surveys, inspections, tests or sampling under sub-paragraph (5) the Council shall not unreasonably delay the execution of any remedial action required under sub-paragraphs (1) or (2).