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Highways Act 1980

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329 Further provision as to interpretation.E+W

(1)In this Act, except where the context otherwise requires—

  • F1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  • Act of 1965” means the M1Compulsory Purchase Act 1965;

  • adjoining” includes abutting on, and “adjoins” is to be construed accordingly;

  • advance payments code” has the meaning provided by section 203(1) above;

  • agriculture” includes horticulture, fruit growing, seed growing, dairy farming, the breeding and keeping of livestock (including any creature kept for the production of food, wool, skins or fur, or for the purpose of its use in the farming of land), the use of land as grazing land, meadow land, osier land, market gardens and nursery grounds, and the use of land for woodlands where that use is ancillary to the farming of land for other agricultural purposes, and “agricultural” is to be construed accordingly;

  • apparatus” includes any structure constructed for the lodging therein of apparatus;

  • approach”, in relation to a bridge or tunnel, means the highway giving access thereto, that is to say, the surface of that highway together with any embankment, retaining wall or other work or substance supporting or protecting the surface;

  • bridge” does not include a culvert, but, save as aforesaid, means a bridge or viaduct which is part of a highway, and includes the abutments and any other part of a bridge but not the highway carried thereby;

  • bridleway” means a highway over which the public have the following, but no other, rights of way, that is to say, a right of way on foot and a right of way on horseback or leading a horse, with or without a right to drive animals of any description along the highway;

  • by-pass” has the meaning provided by section 82(6) above;

  • canal undertakers” means persons authorised by any enactment to carry on a canal undertaking;

  • carriageway” means a way constituting or comprised in a highway, being a way (other than a cycle track) over which the public have a right of way for the passage of vehicles;

  • cattle-grid” has the meaning provided by section 82(6) above;

  • City” means the City of London;

  • classified road” means a highway or proposed highway which is a classified road in accordance with section 12 above;

  • Common Council” means the Common Council of the City of London;

  • contravention” in relation to a condition, restriction or requirement, includes failure to comply with that condition, restriction or requirement, and “contravene” is to be construed accordingly;

  • council” means a county council F2. . . or a local authority;

  • cycle track” means a way constituting or comprised in a highway, being a way over which the public have the following, but no other, rights of way, that is to say, a right of way on pedal cycles [F3(other than pedal cycles which are motor vehicles within the meaning of [F4the Road Traffic Act 1988]] with or without a right of way on foot;

  • [F5definitive map and statement ” has the same meaning as in Part III of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; ]

  • dock undertakers” means persons authorised by any enactment to carry on a dock undertaking;

  • drainage authority[F6means the Environment Agency, the Natural Resources Body for Wales or] an internal drainage board;

  • [F7driver information system ” has the same meaning as in Part II of the Road Traffic (Driver Licensing and Information Systems) Act 1989, and references to an “operator” of a driver information system are references to an operator licensed under that Part of that Act; ]

  • F8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  • enactment” includes an enactment in a local or private Act of Parliament and a provision of an order, scheme, regulations or other instrument made under or confirmed by a public general, local or private Act of Parliament;

  • [F9field-edge path ” means a footpath or bridleway that follows the sides or headlands of a field or enclosure; ]

  • financial year” means a year ending on 31st March;

  • footpath” means a highway over which the public have a right of way on foot only, not being a footway;

  • footway” means a way comprised in a highway which also comprises a carriageway, being a way over which the public have a right of way on foot only;

  • functions” includes powers and duties;

  • [F10 GLA road ” shall be construed in accordance with section 14D(1) above; ]

  • F11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  • harbour undertakers” means persons authorised by any enactment to carry on a harbour undertaking;

  • highway land acquisition powers” has the meaning provided by section 250(1) above;

  • highway maintainable at the public expense” means a highway which by virtue of section 36 above or of any other enactment (whether contained in this Act or not) is a highway which for the purposes of this Act is a highway maintainable at the public expense;

  • horse” includes pony, ass and mule, and “horseback” is to be construed accordingly;

  • hours of darkness” means the time between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise;

  • improvement” means the doing of any act under powers conferred by Part V of this Act and includes the erection, maintenance, alteration and removal of traffic signs, and the freeing of a highway or road-ferry from tolls;

  • inland navigation undertakers” means persons authorised by any enactment to carry on an inland navigation undertaking;

  • land” includes land covered by water and any interest or right in, over or under land;

  • lease” includes an underlease and an agreement for a lease or underlease, but does not include an option to take a lease or mortgage, and “lessee” is to be construed accordingly;

  • lighting authority” means a council or other body authorised to provide lighting under section 161 of the M2Public Health Act 1875 or under section 3 of the M3Parish Councils Act 1957 or any corresponding local enactment;

  • local authority” means the council of a district or London borough or the Common Council [F12but, in relation to Wales, means a Welsh council];

  • local highway authority” means a highway authority other than the Minister[F13or a strategic highways company];

  • local planning authority” has the same meaning as in [F14the Town and Country Planning Act 1990];

  • lorry area” means an area provided under section 115 above;

  • made-up carriageway” means a carriageway, or a part thereof, which has been metalled or in any other way provided with a surface suitable for the passage of vehicles;

  • maintenance” includes repair, and “maintain” and “maintainable” are to be construed accordingly;

  • maintenance compound” means an area of land (with or without buildings) used or to be used in connection with the maintenance of highways, or a particular highway;

  • F15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  • “the Minister”, subject to subsection (5) below, means as respects England, the Minister of Transport and as respects Wales, the Secretary of State; and in section 258 of, and paragraphs 7, 8(1) and (3), 14, 15(1) and (3), 18(2), 19 and 21 of Schedule 1 to, this Act, references to the Minister and the Secretary of State acting jointly are to be construed, as respects Wales, as references to the Secretary of State acting alone;

  • navigation authority” means persons authorised by any enactment to work, maintain, conserve, improve or control any canal or other inland navigation, navigable river, estuary, harbour or dock;

  • owner”, in relation to any premises, means a person, other than a mortgagee not in possession, who, whether in his own right or as trustee or agent for any other person, is entitled to receive the rack rent of the premises or, where the premises are not let at a rack rent, would be so entitled if the premises were so let;

  • F16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  • pier undertakers” means persons authorised by any enactment to carry on a pier undertaking;

  • premises” includes land and buildings;

  • private street works code” has the meaning provided by section 203(1) above;

  • proposed highway” means land on which, in accordance with plans made by a highway authority, that authority are for the time being constructing or intending to construct a highway shown in the plans;

  • [F17proprietor ”, in relation to a school, has the same meaning as in the Education Act 1996; ]

  • public general enactment” means an enactment in an Act treated as a public general Act under the system of division of Acts adopted in the regnal year 38 George 3, other than an Act for confirming a provisional order;

  • public path creation agreement” means an agreement under section 25 above;

  • public path creation order” means an order under section 26 above;

  • public path diversion order” means an order under section 119 above;

  • public path extinguishment order” means an order under section 118 above;

  • public utility undertakers” means persons authorised by any enactment to carry on any of the following undertakings, that is to say, an undertaking for the supply of F18. . . gas F19. . . or hydraulic power;

  • rack rent”, in relation to any premises, means a rent which is not less than two-thirds of the rent at which the premises might reasonably be expected to let from year to year, free from all usual tenant’s rates and taxes, F20. . . and deducting therefrom the probable average annual cost of the repairs, insurance and other expenses (if any) necessary to maintain the same in a state to command such rent;

  • [F21rail crossing diversion order ” means an order under section 119A above;

  • rail crossing extinguishment order ” means an order under section 118A above;. ]

  • railway” includes a light railway;

  • railway undertakers” means persons authorised by any enactment to carry on a railway undertaking;

  • reconstruction”, in relation to a bridge, includes the construction of a new bridge and approaches thereto in substitution for the existing bridge and the approaches thereto;

  • [F22restricted byway ” has the same meaning as in Part II of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000; ]

  • road-ferry” means a ferry connecting the termination of a highway which is, or is to become, a highway maintainable at the public expense with the termination of another highway which is, or is to become, such a highway;

  • [F23road hump ” has the meaning provided by section 90F(1); ]

  • [F24school ” has the same meaning as in the Education Act 1996; ]

  • service area” means an area of land adjoining, or in the vicinity of, a special road, being an area in which there are, or are to be, provided service stations or other buildings or facilities to be used in connection with the use of the special road;

  • F25. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  • [F26special diversion order ” means an order under section 119B(4) above; ]

  • special enactment” means any enactment other than a public general enactment;

  • [F27special extinguishment order ” means an order under section 118B(4) above; ]

  • special road” means a highway, or a proposed highway, which is a special road in accordance with section 16 above [F28or by virtue of an order granting development consent under the Planning Act 2008];

  • special road authority” has the meaning provided by section 16(4) above;

  • [F29 SSSI diversion order ” means an order under section 119D above; ]

  • statutory undertakers” means persons authorised by any enactment to carry on any of the following undertakings:—

    (a)

    a railway, tramway, road transport, water transport, canal, inland navigation, dock, harbour, pier or lighthouse undertaking, or

    (b)

    an undertaking for the supply of F30. . . F31. . . F32. . . or hydraulic power,

    and “statutory undertaking” is to be construed accordingly;

    [F33strategic highways company” means a company for the time being appointed under Part 1 of the Infrastructure Act 2015;]

  • [F34street ” has the same meaning as in Part III of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991; ]

  • F35[street works licence ” means a licence under section 50 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, and “ licensee ” in relation to such a licence, has the meaning given by subsection (3) of that section; ]

  • swing bridge” includes any opening bridge operated by mechanical means;

  • traffic” includes pedestrians and animals;

  • [F36traffic calming works ”, in relation to a highway, means works affecting the movement of vehicular or other traffic for the purpose of—

    (a)

    promoting safety (including avoiding or reducing, or reducing the likelihood of, danger connected with terrorism within the meaning of section 1 of the Terrorism Act 2000 (c. 11)), or

    (b)

    preserving or improving the environment through which the highway runs;]

  • traffic sign” has the same meaning as in [F37section 64 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984];

  • tramway undertakers” means persons authorised by any enactment to carry on a tramway undertaking;

  • transport undertakers” means persons authorised by any enactment to carry on any of the following undertakings, that is to say, a railway, canal, inland navigation, dock, harbour or pier undertaking, and “transport undertaking” is to be construed accordingly;

  • trunk road” means a highway, or a proposed highway, which is a trunk road by virtue of section 10(1) or section 19 above or by virtue of an order or direction under section 10 above [F38or an order granting development consent under the Planning Act 2008,]or under any other enactment;

  • trunk road picnic area” has the meaning provided by section 112(1) above;

  • [F39“universal service provider” has the same meaning as in [F40Part 3 of the Postal Services Act 2011]; and references to the provision of a universal postal service shall be construed in accordance with [F41that Part];]

  • [F42water undertakers[F6means the Environment Agency, the Natural Resources Body for Wales or]a water undertaker. ]

  • [F43Welsh council ” means the council of a Welsh county or county borough. ]

(2)A highway at the side of a river, canal or other inland navigation is not excluded from the definition in subsection (1) above of [F44“bridleway”, “footpath” or “restricted byway”], by reason only that the public have a right to use the highway for purposes of navigation, if the highway would fall within that definition if the public had no such right thereover.

[F45(2A)In this Act—

(a)any reference to a county shall be construed in relation to Wales as including a reference to a county borough;

(b)any reference to a county council shall be construed in relation to Wales as including a reference to a county borough council; and

(c)section 17(4) and (5) of the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 (references to counties and districts to be construed generally in relation to Wales as references to counties and county boroughs) shall not apply.]

(3)In a case where two or more parishes are grouped under a common parish council, references in this Act to a parish are to be construed as references to those parishes.

[F46(3A)In a case where two or more communities are grouped under a common community council, references in this Act to a community are to be construed as references to those communities.]

(4)Any reference in this Act to property of railway undertakers, canal undertakers, inland navigation undertakers, dock undertakers, harbour undertakers F47. . . pier undertakers is, where the undertakers are a body to which this subsection applies, to be taken as a reference to property of that body held or used by them wholly or mainly for the purposes of so much of their undertaking as consists of the carrying on of a railway undertaking or, as the case may be, of a canal undertaking, an inland navigation undertaking, a dock undertaking, a harbour undertaking or a pier undertaking.

This subsection applies to the following bodies, namely, the British Railways Board, the British Transport Docks Board, [F48Canal & River Trust], [F49Transport for London], F50. . . F51. . . any wholly-owned subsidiary (within the meaning of the M4Transport Act 1968) or joint subsidiary (within the meaning of section 51(5) of that Act) of any of those bodies [F52other than Transport for London, or any of its subsidiaries (within the meaning of the Greater London Authority Act 1999)].

[F53(4A)Any reference in this Act to apparatus belonging to, or used or maintained by the operator of [F54an electronic communications code network] shall have effect as a reference to [F55electronic communications apparatus] kept installed for the purposes of that [F56network].]

(5)In relation to that part of the road constructed by the Minister of Transport along the line described in Schedule 1 to the M5North of Almondsbury—South of Haysgate Trunk Road Order 1947 and referred to in that Order as “the new road” which lies to the east of the most easterly point before reaching the River Wye at which eastbound traffic of Classes I and II (as specified in Schedule 4 to this Act) can leave that road by another special road, the functions of the Minister under this Act shall be exercisable [F57by the Secretary of State for Transport].

[F58(6)Subsection (5) is subject to the specification of those roads as ones for which a strategic highways company is highway authority under Part 1 of the Infrastructure Act 2015.]

Textual Amendments

F5Definition of "definitive map and statement" in s. 329(1) inserted (12.2.2003 for E. and 31.5.2005 for W.) by 2000 c. 37, ss. 57, 103(3), Sch. 6 Pt. I para. 20(a); S.I. 2003/272, art. 2(a)(n); S.I. 2005/1314, art. 2(b)(vi)

F10Definition in s. 329(1) inserted (3.7.2000) by 1999 c. 29, s. 263(6) (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 2000/801, art. 2(2)(c), Sch. Pt. 3

F16Definition in s. 329(1) repealed (27.9.1999) by 1999 c. 22, ss. 106, 108(3)(f), Sch. 15 Pt. V(I) (with Sch. 14 paras. 7(2), 36(9)); S.I. 1999/2657, art. 2(d)(iii)

F17Definition of "proprietor" in s. 329(1) inserted (12.2.2003 for E. and 31.5.2005 for W.) by 2000 c. 37, ss. 57, 103(3), Sch. 6 Pt. I para. 20(b); S.I. 2003/272, art. 2(a)(n); S.I. 2005/1314, art. 2(b)(vi)

F20Words in s. 329(1) repealed (5.11.1993) by 1993 c. 50, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. XIV Group 3

F21Definitions of "rail crossing diversion order" and "rail crossing extinguishment order" in s. 329(1) inserted (22.12.1992 for certain purposes and otherwise 31.1.1993) by Transport and Works Act 1992 (c. 42), s. 47, Sch. 2 para. 9; S.I. 1992/3144, arts. 2, 3, Sch.

F22Definition of "restricted byway" in s. 329(1) inserted (2.5.2006 for E. and 11.5.2006 for W.) by 2000 c. 37, ss. 51, 103(3), Sch. 5 Pt. II para. 16(a); S.I. 2006/1172, art. 2(g)(iv); S.I. 2006/1279, art. 2(g)

F24Definition of "school" in s. 329(1) inserted (12.2.2003 for E. and 31.5.2005 for W.) by 2000 c. 37, ss. 57, 103(3), Sch. 6 Pt. I para. 20(c); S.I. 2003/272, art. 2(a)(n); S.I. 2005/1314, art. 2(b)(vi)

F26Definition of "special diversion order" in s. 329(1) inserted (12.2.2003 for E., 15.7.2005 for W. for specified purposes and otherwise prosp.) by 2000 c. 37, ss. 57, 103(3), Sch. 6 Pt. I para. 20(d); S.I. 2003/272, art. 2(a)(n); S.I. 2005/1314, art. 3(d)(vi)

F27Definition of "special extinguishment order" in s. 329(1) inserted (12.2.2003 for E., 15.7.2005 for W. for specified purposes and otherwise prosp.) by 2000 c. 37, ss. 57, 103(3), Sch. 6 Pt. I para. 20(e); S.I. 2003/272, art. 2(a)(n); S.I. 2005/1314, art. 3(d)(vi)

F28Words in s. 329(1) in definition of "special road" inserted (1.3.2010) by Planning Act 2008 (c. 29), ss. 36, 241, Sch. 2 para. 29(2) (with s. 226); S.I. 2010/101, art. 2 (with art. 6)

F29Definition of "SSSI diversion order" in s. 329(1) inserted (12.2.2003 for E., otherwise prosp.) by 2000 c. 37, ss. 57, 103(3), Sch. 6 Pt. I para. 20(f); S.I. 2003/272, art. 2(a)(n)

F35Definition of "street works licence" in s. 329(1) inserted (1.1.1993) by New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (c. 22, SIF 59, 108), s. 168(1), Sch. 8 Pt. I para. 15(3); S.I. 1992/2984, art. 2(2), Sch. 2

F36In s. 329(1) definition of "traffic calming works" substituted (19.1.2005) by Civil Contingencies Act 2004 (c. 36), s. 32(1), Sch. 2 Pt. 3 para. 15(2); S.I. 2004/3281, art. 2(3)(4)

F38Words in s. 329(1) in definition of "trunk road" inserted (1.3.2010) by Planning Act 2008 (c. 29), ss. 36, 241, Sch. 2 para. 29(3) (with s. 226); S.I. 2010/101, art. 2 (with art. 6)

F39In s. 329(1) definition of "universal service provider" inserted (26.3.2001) by S.I. 2001/1149, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 49(10)

F44Words in s. 329(2) substituted (2.5.2006 for E. and 11.5.2006 for W.) by 2000 c. 37, ss. 51, 103(3), Sch. 5 Pt. II para. 16(b); S.I. 2006/1172, art. 2(g)(iv); S.I. 2006/1279, art. 2(g)

F54Words in s. 329(4A) substituted (25.7.2003 for specified purposes, 29.12.2003 for further specified purposes) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 406(1)(6), 408, 411, Sch. 17 para. 56(1)(f)(2)(a) (with Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/1900, arts. 1(2), 2(1), 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 3(2) (as amended (8.12.2003) by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 1(3))); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(2) (with art. 11)

F55Words in s. 329(4A) substituted (25.7.2003 for specified purposes, 29.12.2003 for further specified purposes) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 406(1)(6), 408, 411, Sch. 17 para. 56(1)(f)(2)(c) (with Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/1900, arts. 1(2), 2(1), 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 3(2) (as amended (8.12.2003) by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 1(3))); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(2) (with art. 11)

F56Word in s. 329(4A) substituted (25.7.2003 for specified purposes, 29.12.2003 for further specified purposes) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 406(1)(6), 408, 411, Sch. 17 para. 56(1)(f)(2)(e) (with Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/1900, arts. 1(2), 2(1), 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 3(2) (as amended (8.12.2003) by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 1(3))); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(2) (with art. 11)

F57Words substituted by S.I. 1981/238, art. 3(1)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2S. 329(5): functions of First Secretary of State transferred (21.8.2006) to Secretary of State by The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1926), art. 4(2)

Marginal Citations

M5S. R. & O. 1947/1562.

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