Air-Raid Precautions Act, 1939

Designation of premises.

21.— (1) Whenever and so often as it appears to a scheme-making local authority that the whole or any part of a building situate in its functional area is or can be made suitable—

(a) for use as a public air-raid shelter, or

(b) for use, in the event of attack, by such authority, in carrying out any of the functions imposed on it by or under this Part of this Act,

that authority may post in the building or part a notice (in this Part of this Act referred to as a designation notice) declaring that such building or such part may be required for the purposes of this Act.

(2) Where a scheme-making local authority posts a designation notice in a building or part of a building such authority shall notify the Minister and take such steps as appear reasonably practicable to bring the contents of such designation notice to the knowledge of the persons having estates or interests in the building or part.

(3) Where a scheme-making local authority posts a designation notice in respect of any building or part thereof such authority shall cause the prescribed particulars of such notice to be registered in the register, and upon such registration such notice shall be binding on any person subsequently acquiring any estate or interest in such building.

(4) A scheme-making local authority may at any time withdraw any designation notice posted by it by posting a notice to that effect in the building or part of a building to which such designation notice relates, and shall, in that case, cause the entry in the register relating to such designation notice to be cancelled.

(5) Where a designation notice has been posted in a building or part of a building then, subject to the provisions of the next following section, such building or part shall unless such notice is withdrawn be designated premises during the period of three years commencing on the day on which notice is so posted, and references in this Part of this Act to designated premises and to designation of premises shall be construed accordingly.

(6) Notwithstanding anything in this section a scheme-making local authority shall not, without the prior consent of the Minister given after consultation with the Minister for Industry and Commerce, designate the whole or any part of a building which either—

(a) is occupied by an essential undertaker, or

(b) is situate on land over which any essential undertaker exercises any control under any enactment or order relating to him.