The Road Traffic Regulation (Northern Ireland) Order 1997

Article 5(10).

SCHEDULE 2 EXPERIMENTAL TRAFFIC CONTROL SCHEMES

1.  In this Schedule—

(a) “scheme” means an experimental traffic control scheme; and

(b) references to making a scheme do not include references to making a scheme the sole effect of which is to revoke another scheme.

2.  The Department shall comply with paragraphs 3 and 4 before making a scheme.

3.  The Department shall consult such persons as the Department considers appropriate.

4.—(1) The Department shall publish in a newspaper circulating in the area in which any road to which the scheme relates is situated a notice including the particulars specified in sub-paragraph (2).

(2) The particulars which the notice must contain are—

(a) the title of the scheme;

(b) a statement of the general nature and effect of the scheme;

(c) the name or a brief description of the road to which the scheme will apply;

(d) an address in that area where a copy of the draft scheme and any relevant map or plan may be inspected by any person free of charge at all reasonable hours during the period mentioned in head (e); and

(e) the period during which, and the address to which, objections or other representations may be made, and a statement that all objections or other representations must be in writing and must specify the grounds on which they are made.

(3) The period specified under sub-paragraph (2)(e) shall not be less than 21 days from the date of the publication or last publication of the notice.

(4) The Department shall consider any objections or other representations in respect of the draft scheme made within the period specified under sub-paragraph (2)(e).

5.  Before making a scheme, the Department may hold a public inquiry.

6.  The Department may make a scheme with or without omissions and other modifications.

7.—(1) Where the Department makes a scheme, it shall—

(a) notify—

(i) any person consulted under paragraph 3; and

(ii) any person who made objections or other representations in accordance with paragraph 4; and

(b) publish—

(i) in the Belfast Gazette; and

(ii) in a newspaper circulating in the area in which any road to which the scheme relates is situated,

a notice stating that the scheme has been made.

(2) The notice published under sub-paragraph (1)(b) shall include the following statements—

(a) that the Department will consider in due course whether the provisions of the scheme should be continued in force indefinitely;

(b) that within the period of six months from the commencement of the scheme any person may object to the making of a traffic regulation order for the purpose of continuing the provisions of the scheme in force indefinitely;

(c) that any such objection must be in writing, must give the grounds on which it is made and must be made to the address specified in the notice; and

(d) that a copy of the scheme and any relevant map or plan may be inspected by any person free of charge at all reasonable hours during the period mentioned in sub-paragraph (b) at the address mentioned in sub-paragraph (c).

8.  Paragraph 7 shall have effect in relation to the making of a scheme the sole effect of which is to revoke another scheme as if sub-paragraphs (1)(a) and (2) were omitted.

9.  Where under Article 5(5) the Department directs that a scheme shall continue in force, the Department shall publish in the Belfast Gazette and in a newspaper circulating in the area in which any road to which the scheme relates is situated a notice stating the period for which the scheme is to continue in force.

10.—(1) Where under Article 5(8) the Department directs in a scheme that a provision is to be suspended or modified, a notice under paragraph 7(1)(b) shall indicate the provision affected by the direction and its nature, and shall—

(a) in the case of the making or amendment of a scheme, state the period for which the suspension or modification is to have effect; or

(b) in the case of the revocation of a scheme, state the date on which the suspension or modification is to cease to have effect.

(2) Where, except as provided by sub-paragraph (1), under Article 5(8) the Department directs that a provision is to be suspended or modified, the Department shall publish in the Belfast Gazette and in a newspaper circulating in the area in which any road to which the provision relates is situated a notice—

(a) indicating the provision affected by the direction and its nature; and

(b) stating the period for which the suspension or modification is to have effect.