Highways Act 1980

3 (1) The relevant powers with respect to a highway specified in a notice under paragraph 1 above become exercisable— E+W

(a) where no counter-notice is served in respect of the highway under paragraph 2 above, at the expiry of the period of 6 weeks first specified in that paragraph; and

(b) where such a counter-notice is served, when the dispute is resolved in favour of the district council by the councils concerned or, as the case may be, when the Minister’s decision on the dispute in favour of the district council is received by the district council;

but if a dispute resulting from the service of a counter-notice under paragraph 2 above is resolved or decided by the Minister against the district council, the relevant powers are not exercisable by the district council in respect of the highway concerned and no further notice under paragraph 1 above may be given by the district council in respect of that highway unless its status is changed or there is such a change in the character of the road as to give reasonable ground for believing that it has become an urban road.

(2) In the event that a highway in respect of which the relevant powers have become exercisable in accordance with sub-paragraph (1) above or paragraph 4(2) below becomes a trunk road or classified road, the relevant powers thereupon cease with respect to that highway.