The Roads (Northern Ireland) Order 1993

Erection of scaffolding, hoardings, etc. on a road N.I.

72.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), any person who, in connection with any building or demolition work or the alteration, repair, maintenance or cleaning of any building, erects any scaffolding on a road shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to anything done—

(a) with the consent of the Department; or

(b) in relation to a road which is not a[F1 protected street], by—

(i) a statutory undertaker in the exercise of a statutory power;

(ii) the operator of[F2 an electronic communications code network] in pursuance of any right conferred by or in accordance with the[F2 electronic communications code]; or

(iii) the holder of a licence under Article 10(1) of the Electricity Order in pursuance of any right conferred by or in accordance with Schedule 4 to that Order [F1 or

(c) in pursuance of a street works licence.]

(3) Where—

(a) a person has erected any scaffolding in contravention of paragraph (1); and

(b) the Department considers that the scaffolding constitutes a danger to persons using the road,

then (whether or not proceedings are instituted for an offence under that paragraph), the Department may—

(i) remove the scaffolding or carry out such other works as are necessary to obviate the danger; and

(ii) recover from that person any expenses thereby reasonably incurred by it.

(4) Where—

(a) a person is convicted of an offence under paragraph (1); and

(b) he does not, within such period as the court may allow, remove any scaffolding erected in contravention of that paragraph and make good any damage to the road,

then the Department may itself—

(i) remove that scaffolding and make good any damage to the road; and

(ii) recover from that person any expenses thereby reasonably incurred by it.

(5) A consent under paragraph (2)(a) may be given by the Department where it is satisfied that the safety or convenience of traffic using the road, or which may be expected to use the road, will not thereby be prejudiced.

(6) A consent under paragraph (2)(a) shall be given subject to such conditions as seem to the Department to be adequate for securing—

(a) the proper erection and removal of the scaffolding and the reinstatement of the road; and

(b) the safety and convenience of traffic.

(7) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (6), a consent under paragraph (2)(a) may be given subject to conditions—

(a) designed to ensure—

(i) safe access to the road for traffic likely to use the road for the purposes of the work, alteration, repair, maintenance or cleaning in connection with which the scaffolding is erected; and

(ii) the provision of adequate accommodation adjoining the road for vehicles which, by waiting to load or unload or otherwise using the road for any purpose relating to the erection of the scaffolding might reasonably be expected to obstruct the traffic on the road;

(b) requiring the person to whom the consent is given to cause the scaffolding to which the consent relates to be properly lighted during the hours of darkness (within the meaning of the Road Traffic Order);

(c) requiring the person to whom the consent is given to comply with any directions given to him in writing by the Department with respect to the erection and maintenance of signs warning users of the road of the presence of the scaffolding to which the consent relates;

(d) requiring the person to whom the consent is given to deposit a sum of money with the Department as security for the proper erection and removal of the scaffolding and the reinstatement of the road.

(8) The person to whom a consent is issued under this Article in respect of any scaffolding shall indemnify the Department against any claim in respect of injury, damage or loss arising out of the erection or presence of that scaffolding on a road, other than a claim in respect of injury, damage or loss which is attributable to the negligence of the Department.

(9) Any person who—

(a) erects any scaffolding in pursuance of a consent given under paragraph (2)(a); and

(b) fails to comply with any condition subject to which that consent was given,

shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(10) Where it appears to the Department that a person has contravened paragraph (9), then (whether or not proceedings are instituted for an offence under that paragraph) the Department may—

(a) revoke the consent given to that person under paragraph (2)(a);

(b) remove any scaffolding erected in pursuance of that consent; and

(c) recover from that person any expenses thereby reasonably incurred by it.

(11) Where any scaffolding—

(a) has been removed by the Department under paragraph (3), (4) or (10), and

(b) has not been recovered by its owner within 21 days from the day on which it was removed,

the Department may dispose of it in such manner as the Department thinks fit.

(12) Where any scaffolding is disposed of by sale under paragraph (11) the expenses of removal and sale shall be defrayed out of the proceeds thereof and the balance of the proceeds (if any) shall be given to the owner if known and if not shall be applied in the same manner as is provided for with respect to fines by section 20 of the Administration of Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 1954F3 .

(13) Where the Department disposes of any scaffolding under paragraph (11)—

(a) by sale and the proceeds are not sufficient to defray the Department's expenses; or

(b) in some manner other than by sale,

the Department may recover from the person who erected that scaffolding on the road any expenses reasonably incurred by it in removing and disposing of the scaffolding.

(14) This Article shall apply to any hoarding or other structure erected in connection with any building or demolition work or the alteration, repair, maintenance or cleaning of any building as it applies to scaffolding erected in that connection.

F1 1995 NI 19

F2 2003 c. 21

F3 1954 c. 9 (N.I.)