Highways Act 1980

300 Right of local authorities to use vehicles and appliances on footways and bridleways

(1) No statutory provision prohibiting or restricting the use of footpaths, footways or bridleways shall affect the use by a competent authority of appliances or vehicles, whether mechanically operated or propelled or not, for cleansing, maintaining or improving footpaths, footways or bridleways or their verges, or for maintaining or altering structures or other works situated

For the purposes of this section—

(a) the following are competent authorities, namely, the council of any county, district or London borough, the Common Council, the Council of the Isles of Scilly, any parish or community council, or parish meeting, the Sub-Treasurer of the Inner Temple and the Under-Treasurer of the Middle Temple; and

(b) " statutory provision " means a provision contained in, or having effect under, any enactment.

(2) The Minister of Transport and the Secretary of State acting jointly may make regulations prescribing the conditions under which the rights conferred by this section may be exercised, and such regulations may in particular make provision as to—

(a) the construction of any appliances or vehicles used under this section,

(b) the maximum weight of any such appliances or vehicles, or the maximum weight borne by any wheel or axle,

(c) the maximum speed of any such appliances or vehicles,

(d) the hours during which the appliances or vehicles may be used, and

(e) the giving by the Minister of Transport or the Secretary of State of directions dispensing with or relaxing any requirement of the regulations as it applies to a particular authority or in any particular case.