Roads (Scotland) Act 1984

Subject to subsection (10) below, a local roads authority shall manage and maintain all such roads in their area as are for the time being entered in a list (in this Act referred to as their “list of public roads”) prepared and kept by them under this section; and for the purposes of such management and maintenance (and without prejudice to this subsection’s generality) they shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, have power to reconstruct, alter, widen, improve or renew any such road or to determine the means by which the public right of passage over it, or over any part of it, may be exercised.

Subject to subsection (10) below, the list of public roads prepared by the local roads authority shall, at the date of commencement of this section, comprise all public roads which immediately prior to that date were required to be entered by the local highway authority for the area in a list of the roads highways and bridges under their management and control under section 41 of the M1Roads and Bridges (Scotland) Act 1878 or in a register of streets under section 5 of the M2Burgh Police (Scotland) Act 1903 or any corresponding local enactment.

The list of public roads shall be open for inspection free of charge at such reasonable times and places as the local roads authority may determine.

The requisite number of frontagers to whom notice of a decision following a representation is given under subsection (4) above may, within 28 days of such notice, refer the matter by summary application to the sheriff. His decision thereon shall, subject to subsection (8) below, be final and, where that decision requires the addition or deletion to be proceeded with, shall be given effect to forthwith by the local roads authority.

A decision of which notice is given under subsection (4) above shall not be given effect to until the 28 days mentioned in subsection (5) above have expired or, if the matter has been referred under the said subsection (5) to the sheriff, until the summary application has been disposed of or abandoned.

Subsection (5) above is without prejudice to the rights of the local roads authority to proceed again under subsection (4) above as regards the same addition or deletion (or as regards an addition or deletion which comprehends, or is comprehended in, the same addition or deletion) where there has been a material change of circumstances since the publication, in relation to the original proposed addition or deletion, of the notice under subsection (4)(b) above.

Subject to subsection (10) below, every road which is entered in the list of public roads kept by a local roads authority shall vest in the authority for the purposes of their functions as roads authority: but such vesting shall not confer on an authority any heritable right in relation to a road.

The Secretary of State shall prepare and keep a list of roads which he is for the time being liable to manage and maintain under subsection (1) above; and the list shall, at the date of commencement of this section, comprise all roads which immediately prior to that date were managed and maintained by him.

The list referred to in subsection (2) above shall be open for inspection free of charge at such reasonable times and places as the Secretary of state may determine.

Every road maintainable by the Secretary of State under subsection (1) above shall vest in him for the purposes of his functions as roads authority; but such vesting shall not confer on him any heritable right in relation to a road.

An advance under subsection (1)(a) or (b) above may be either by way of grant or by way of loan, or partly in one way and partly in the other, and shall be upon such terms and subject to such conditions as the Secretary of State thinks fit.

In subsection (3) above, “loan charges”, in relation to any borrowed money, means the sums required for the payment of interest on that money and for the repayment thereof by instalments or by means of a sinking fund.

Subsection (1) above does not apply as regards functions under section 55 of this Act, but subject to subsections (4) and (5) below, the Secretary of State may enter into an agreement with a general or district planning authority for the carrying out by the authority of any of his functions under that section.

Where an agreement under subsection (1) above affects a trunk road in the area of a local roads authority who are not a party to the agreement, the agreement shall have effect only if the authority consent to it.

An authority doing anything under an agreement entered into under this section act as agents for the Secretary of State, and nothing in any such agreement affects his status as roads authority.

The functions of the Secretary of State mentioned in sub-sections (1) and (2) above do not include his functions under Schedules 1 and 2 to this Act.

Subject to the provisions of this section, all roads which immediately before the commencement of this section were trunk roads within the meaning of the Trunk Roads Acts M4 1936 and M5 1946 shall continue to be, and to be known as, trunk roads.

The power of the Secretary of State under subsection (2)(a) above shall include power to direct that a road, or a proposed road, which he considers suitable for the purpose of relieving the trunk road from local traffic shall become part of the trunk road, whether or not there is (or will be) intervening land between those roads.

Subject to subsection (7)(i) below, Parts I and III of Schedule 1 to this Act shall have effect in connection with the making of an order under this section, and Schedule 2 to this Act shall have effect in connection with the validity and date of operation of any such order.

If objection to an order under this section is duly made in accordance with Schedule 1 to this Act by the local roads authority who are responsible for the maintenance of any road to which the order relates, or who will become so responsible by virtue of the order, and that objection is not withdrawn, the order shall be subject to special parliamentary procedure, and Part IV of that Schedule shall have effect for the purposes of the application to the order of the M6 Statutory Orders (Special Procedure) Act 1945.

A local roads authority, if they think fit, may contribute towards costs incurred by the Secretary of State in the construction or improvement of any trunk road.

Subject to the provisions of this Act, all such roads as immediately before the commencement of this Act were special roads, being roads provided in pursuance of a scheme made under section 1 of the M8Special Roads Act 1949, shall continue to be, and to be known as, special roads.

Roads which continue to be special roads by virtue of subsection (1) above shall continue, subject to the provisions of this Act, to be special roads for the use of traffic of the classes for the use of which they were special roads immediately before the commencement of this Act.

A roads authority may be authorised by means of a scheme under this section to provide, along a route prescribed by the scheme, a special road for the use of traffic of any class so prescribed.

Subject to subsection (10) below, a roads authority authorised by a scheme under this section, or by any such scheme as is referred to in subsection (1) above, to provide a special road are in this Act referred to in relation to that road as the “special road authority”.

Before making or confirming a scheme under this section, the Secretary of State shall give due consideration to the requirements of local and national planning, and to the requirements of agriculture and industry.

Part IV of Schedule 1 to this Act shall have effect for the purposes of the application to schemes under this section of the M9 Statutory Orders (Special Procedure) Act 1945; and Schedule 2 to this Act shall have effect with respect to the validity and date of operation of such schemes.

Different classes of traffic may be prescribed by a scheme under section 7 of this Act in relation to different parts of the special road to which the scheme relates.

The classes of traffic prescribed by any such scheme shall be prescribed by reference to the classes set out in Schedule 3 to this Act.

The Secretary of State may by order vary the classes of traffic specified in the said Schedule 3 and the composition of any such class; F8 . . .

A variation order may contain provision applying the variations made by the order to existing schemes (whether made by the Secretary of State or a local roads authority); and in the absence of such provision a variation order does not affect the classes of traffic prescribed in an existing scheme.

In subsection (4) above an “existing scheme” means a scheme under section 7 made before the order comes into operation.

No order authorising the stopping up of a road shall be made or confirmed by the Secretary of State under this section unless he is satisfied that another reasonably convenient route is available or will be provided in pursuance of an order under this section before the road is stopped up.

A special road to be provided by the Secretary of State in accordance with a scheme under section 7 of this Act shall, except in so far as it is provided by means of the appropriation or transfer of any existing road, become a trunk road on such date as may be specified in the scheme.

A road (not being a trunk road) which, by means of an order under section 9 of this Act, is appropriated as a special road to be provided by the Secretary of State, and a road which, by means of such an order, is transferred to the Secretary of State, shall become a trunk road on the date on which it is so appropriated or is so transferred, as the case may be.

Subsections (1) and (2) above shall have effect subject to any provision of the scheme under section 7 of this Act directing that the special road in question or any part of it shall not be a trunk road; but any such provision shall not affect the power of the Secretary of State to make an order under section 5(2)(a) of this Act with respect to the special road or part.

In any enactment in force at the commencement of this Act a reference to a classified road (or any cognate reference) shall be construed as a reference to a road (or proposed road) which for the time being is classified, for the purposes of that enactment, under subsection (1) above.

A road which, immediately before the commencement of this Act, bore (or fell to be treated as bearing) a classification (whether as a principal road or otherwise) given by the Secretary of State under any enactment shall, until the Secretary of State otherwise directs, be treated as continuing to bear that classification and as having been so classified under subsection (1) above.

The Secretary of State may by order assign a new description to a class of roads (or proposed roads) classified under subsection (1) above; and except in so far as the order otherwise provides, any reference in any enactment passed or made before the date of the order to a road (or to a proposed road) in terms of the old description shall be construed as a reference to a road (or to a proposed road) of the new description.

Parts I and III of Schedule 1 to this Act shall have effect as to the making of an order under this section by the Secretary of State as roads authority; and Schedule 2 to this Act shall have effect as to the validity and date of operation of any such order.

No order under this section authorising the stopping up of a road shall be made by the Secretary of State unless he is satisfied that another reasonably convenient route is available or will be provided before the road is stopped up.

Except in a case to which section 132 of this Act applies, an order under this section shall include provision for the preservation of any rights of statutory undertakers in respect of any apparatus of theirs which immediately before the date of the order is under, in, on, over, along or across the side road.

The Secretary of State may by regulations prescribe the procedure to be followed by a local roads authority in making an order under this section; and such regulations may in particular make provision as to the means of public notification of the proposal to make such an order and may make like provision in relation to the local roads authority as is made by subsection (3) above in relation to the Secretary of State.

An order under this section may relate to one or more roads.

An order under this section may relate to one or more proposed roads.

In this section and in section 12C of this Act “planning permission” means permission under F12Part III of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997.

Where the Secretary of State considers that it is necessary or expedient as a result of, or in connection with, the establishment of new local government areas on 1st April 1996 that any proposed road to be constructed by a local roads authority should become a trunk road, but the condition mentioned in subsection (1)(a)(ii) of section 12B of this Act is not satisfied in relation to such proposed road, he may, notwithstanding the provisions of that subsection, by order direct that the proposed road shall become a trunk road.

The provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of section 12B(2) of this Act shall apply where an order is made under subsection (1) above as they apply where an order is made under subsection (1)(a) of that section.

Where the Secretary of State considers that it is necessary or expedient as a result of, or in connection with, the establishment of new local government areas on 1st April 1996 that a special road in respect of which a section 7 scheme has been made by a local roads authority but not confirmed by the Secretary of State should be provided by him, he may, notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1)(b) of section 12C of this Act, by order, direct that he shall be authorised to provide such special road by virtue of such scheme.

The provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of section 12C(3) of this Act shall apply where an order is made under subsection (3) above as they apply where an order is made under subsection (1)(b) of that section.

An order under subsection (1) or (3) above may include provision specifying the extent to which compliance before the making of that order with any statutory requirement in relation to the proposed road or, as the case may be, special road shall be deemed to satisfy for all purposes any statutory requirement which the Secretary of State would, apart from such provision, have been required to comply with in relation to that proposed road or special road.

As from the date of an order under subsection (1) or (3) above, the proposed road or, as the case may be, special road shall be deemed always to have been a proposed road to be constructed by the Secretary of State or a special road which the Secretary of State is authorised to provide.

Without prejudice to subsection (1)(c) above, where any drain referred to therein was constructed or laid by the roads authority, they shall scour, cleanse and keep it open.

Before carrying out any works under this section, the roads authority shall serve on the owner and the occupier of the land affected notice of the intention to do so, describing the proposed works, and informing them that they may object to the proposed works by notice to the authority within 28 days of service of the notice.

In the foregoing provisions of this section, except where the context otherwise requires, “drain” includes a ditch, gutter, watercourse, bridge, culvert, tunnel, pipe or holding pond and any pumping machinery associated with any of those things.

Gates (hereafter in this section referred to as “snow gates”) may be provided and maintained by the roads authority for the purpose of temporarily closing a road to vehicular traffic on any occasion when snow is rendering or has rendered that road unsafe for such traffic; and where in the opinion of a constable such an occasion has arisen as respects a road he (or, where the constable is a chief constable, a person acting on his behalf) may, until the road is once again safe for vehicular traffic, close and secure any snow gate on the road against all such traffic except that engaged in the provision or restoration of essential services.

In subsection (1) above—

• “constable” and “chief constable” shall be construed in accordance with sections 50 and 51 of the M16Police (Scotland) Act 1967 (interpretation);

• “engaged in the provision or restoration of essential services” means in the opinion of a constable so engaged; and

• “safe” means in such opinion safe.

A local roads authority shall provide and maintain lighting for roads, or proposed roads, which are, or will be, maintainable by them and which in their opinion ought to be lit.

The Secretary of State may provide and maintain lighting for roads, or proposed roads, which are, or will be, maintainable by him.

A local roads authority may, within their area, provide and maintain lighting for any road, or proposed road, which in their opinion ought to be lit and as regards which no duty is imposed on them by subsection (1) above.

Without prejudice to the generality of this section and after giving 28 days notice to the owner or occupier of any land affected, a roads authority may, in acting under subsection (1), (3) or (4) above, fix to rails, walls or buildings fronting or abutting the road or proposed road, such lamps and related structures as they consider requisite.

A person upon whom a notice has been served under subsection (5) above may within 28 days of such service refer the matter by summary application to the sheriff; and the decision of the sheriff on the matter shall be final.

The period stated in the notice under subsection (2) above shall be not less than 28 days beginning with the date on which notice is first published in accordance with paragraph (a) of that subsection.

The roads authority shall consider any objections sent to them in accordance with a notice under subsection (2) above and may, if they think fit, cause a local inquiry to be held.

Subsections (2) to (8) of section 210 of the M17Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (provisions as to inquiries) shall apply to an inquiry under subsection (4) above as they apply to a local inquiry under that section, but with such modifications as may be prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State.

Before making regulations under this section the Secretary of State shall consult such representative organisations as he thinks fit.

Before making any regulations under this section the Secretary of State shall consult such representative organisations as he thinks fit.

Regulations under this section shall not apply where a road hump is authorised but conditions attached by the Secretary of State to the authorisation may, in particular, relate to any of the matters with respect to which regulations may be made under this section.

In relation to an authorised road hump the reference in subsection (1) above to conformity with regulations shall be construed as a reference to conformity with the conditions attached to the authorisation.

In so far as it does not apply apart from this subsection F20section 117 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (restricting road works following substantial works for roads purposes) applies in relation to the construction, maintenance and removal of a road hump as if the works were executed for road purposes and were mentioned in F20subsection (3) of that section and as if the person executing them were the promoting authority within the meaning of that F20section.

A roads authority shall not exercise the powers conferred by subsection (1) above except in accordance with any requirements imposed by the regulations or authorisation concerned.

Requirements imposed by an authorisation given under this section may relate to any matter with respect to which regulations may be made under section 39B of this Act.

Nothing in this section shall prejudice any power of a roads authority to construct or remove traffic calming works which are neither of a description prescribed by regulations under section 39B of this Act nor authorised.

Where, whether on the representations of owners or occupiers of agricultural land or otherwise, and after such consultation with any such owners and occupiers as the roads authority consider requisite, it appears to the authority expedient so to do for controlling the passage of animals along a road, the authority may, subject to this section and sections 42 to 47 of this Act, provide and maintain a cattle-grid in the road, or partly in the road and partly in adjoining land; and such provision and maintenance may take place whether the road is in existence and open to public traffic or is a proposed road in course of construction.

Where the roads authority provide a cattle-grid under this Act they shall also provide, either by means of a gate or other works on the road (or proposed road) or by means of a by-pass, or partly by one of those means and partly by the other, facilities for the passage under proper control of animals and all other traffic unable to pass over the cattle-grid, being traffic entitled by law to go along the road (or, where the road is a proposed road, which will on completion of that road be so entitled); and the authority shall maintain the facilities so provided.

Where, after complying with Schedule 4 to this Act, the authority determine, as respects any common or waste land adjoining the road or adjacent thereto, that it is expedient so to do, they may place any part of a cattle-grid, or provide a by-pass, on any of that land notwithstanding that the land does not form part of the road and does not belong to the authority.

Without prejudice to subsection (3) above, the authority shall not provide a by-pass along any part of a road other than the road for which the cattle-grid is being provided unless, after complying with Schedule 4 to this Act, they determine that it is expedient to provide that by-pass.

In this Act—

• “cattle-grid” means a device designed to prevent the passage of animals, or animals of any particular description, but to allow the passage of all or some other traffic, and includes any fence or other works necessary for securing the efficient operation of the said device; and

• “by-pass”, in relation to a cattle-grid provided for any road, means a way, over land not comprised within the limits of the road, for the traffic for which the by-pass is provided, with a public right of passage there-over for that traffic, or (if any part of the by-pass is provided along an existing road) for that traffic and for any other traffic entitled to use the road before the by-pass was provided.

The roads authority may provide and maintain on a by-pass any gate or other works necessary for the proper control of traffic and the efficient operation of the cattle-grid for which the by-pass is provided.

The roads authority may alter or improve any cattle-grid, by-pass, gate or other works provided under this section, but not so as to prevent traffic of any description which before the alteration or improvement could lawfully have gone along the road (either by passing over the cattle-grid or by going through any gate or along any by-pass provided under subsection (2) above) from so going along the road.

Without prejudice to subsection (1) and (2) of this section, in subsections (3) to (7) of this section and in Schedule 4 to this Act references to a road shall be construed as including references to a proposed road.

Where it appears to the roads authority, after such consultation with owners and occupiers of agricultural land as the authority consider requisite, that a cattle-grid provided under this Act is no longer required, the authority may remove the cattle-grid and any gate or other works on the road which have been provided for use in connection with the cattle-grid, and shall make good the site thereof.

Where a by-pass has been provided for use in connection with a cattle-grid and the authority remove the cattle-grid, they may direct that the by-pass shall be discontinued and may, where they give such a direction, remove all or any of the gates or other works provided for the purposes of the by-pass.

If a direction under subsection (2) above so provides, then subject to subsection (4) below, as from such date as may be specified in the direction the public right of passage over the by-pass shall be extinguished.

Where a public road is intersected, joined or continued by a road for which some authority other than the roads authority for the first-mentioned road are the roads authority, the following provisions of this section shall have effect.

The two authorities may enter into an agreement as to the exercise, by one, of the other’s powers under sections 41 and 42 of this Act; and any such agreement may provide for the defraying by the one of the whole or any part of the expenses incurred by the other in consequence of the agreement.

An authority shall not unreasonably refuse to enter into an agreement under this section; and if any question arises as to the terms (including terms as to payments) to be included in such an agreement, or whether an authority has unreasonably refused to enter into such an agreement, the question shall be determined by arbitration.

Any question which is required by this section to be determined by arbitration shall be determined by a single arbiter appointed, in default of agreement, by the Court of Session, or by the sheriff, on the application of either party to the question.

The authority shall on demand repay any expenses reasonably incurred in removing a gate in compliance with a requirement under subsection (1) above.

Where in pursuance of subsection (1) above a gate has been removed (whether by, or in compliance with a requirement of, the authority) and they subsequently remove the cattle-grid then, if within 12 months after the removal of the cattle-grid any person reinstals a gate in the exercise of a right the exercise of which was suspended while the cattle-grid was provided, the authority shall on demand repay the expenses reasonably incurred in reinstalling the gate.

No objection shall be made or proceedings brought in respect of the purported exercise by the roads authority of their powers under subsection (1) above as respects any gate on the ground that no right to instal the gate existed; but the purported exercise by the authority of their powers under that subsection shall not affect the question whether any such right existed, or prejudice the powers of the authority or any other person under any enactment or rule of law to protect public rights of way or to prevent or remove obstructions.

The roads authority may, for the purpose of providing, altering or improving a cattle-grid or by-pass under the powers conferred by this Act, enter into an agreement with persons having an interest in any land for the use of the land for that purpose; and there shall be exercisable by the authority and the public such rights over the land as may be specified in the agreement.

Section 5(3) and (4) of, and paragraph 4 of Schedule 2 to, the M19Forestry Act 1967 (enforcement of forestry dedication agreements and classes of person who may enter into such agreements) shall apply in relation to agreements under this section as they apply in relation to forestry dedication agreements, but with the substitution for the reference in the said section 5(3) to the Forestry Commissioners of a reference to the roads authority.

A roads authority may enter into an agreement with any person at whose instance a cattle-grid has been or is to be provided by them under this Act, or with any other person willing to make a contribution towards expenses of the authority under this Act in connection with a cattle-grid, for the making by that person of such a contribution (whether by a single payment or by periodical payments) of such amount as may be specified in the agreement and either towards such description of such expenditure as may be so specified.

An agreement under this section may contain such incidental and consequential provisions as appear to the parties thereto expedient for the purposes of the agreement; and in particular such an agreement providing for a contribution towards the cost of installing a cattle-grid may provide for repayment of the contributions, to such extent as may be specified in the agreement, in the event of the cattle-grid being removed.

In determining whether or not to provide a cattle-grid the roads authority shall be entitled to have regard to the extent to which persons who in the opinion of the authority will derive special benefit from the provision of the cattle-grid are willing to enter into agreements under this section.

In the M20Local Government, (Omnibus Shelters and Queue Barriers) (Scotland) Act 1958, for the words “local authority” wherever they occur other than the places mentioned in subsection (2) below there shall be substituted the words “local roads authority”.

The roads authority may plant trees, shrubs, grass or other plants within, or partly within, the boundaries of a public road or of a proposed public road which is in course of construction; and may erect and maintain guards of fences, and otherwise do anything expedient, for maintenance and protection of trees, shrubs, grass and other plants there planted (whether or not by them).

No such tree, shrub, grass other plant, guard or fence shall be planted (or as the case may be erected) or allowed to remain in such a situation as to hinder the reasonable use of the road (or proposed road) by persons entitled to the use thereof, or so as to be a nuisance or injurious to the owner or occupier of any land fronting or abutting the road (or proposed road).

Paragraph 23 of the F191the electronic communications code (which provides a procedure for certain cases where works involve the alteration of F192electronic communications apparatus) shall, subject to subsection (4) below, apply, for the purposes of any works which may be done in exercise of the powers conferred by this section, to the roads authority.

Where the roads authority is the Secretary of State, sub-paragraph (8) of paragraph 23 of the F191the electronic communications code (offence) shall be omitted for the purposes of the application of that paragraph to him by subsection (3) above.

The roads authority may in writing authorise an owner or occupier of land adjoining a public road, or any other person, to plant or maintain trees, shrubs, grass or other plants within, or partly within, the boundaries of that road subject to such conditions as the authority may specify in the authorisation.

Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) above, the works that may be carried out under that subsection include the planting of trees. shrubs or plants of any other description and the laying out of any area as grassland.

A roads authority may develop or redevelop land acquired by them under section 106 of this Act, or any other land belonging to them, for the purpose of improving the surroundings of a road or proposed road.

For the purpose of mitigating any adverse effect which the construction, improvement, existence or use of a road (or proposed road) has or will have on its surroundings, a roads authority may enter into an agreement with any person having an interest in land adjoining or in the vicinity of the road (or proposed road) for restricting or regulating the use of the land either permanently or during such period as may be specified in the agreement; and any such agreement may, in particular, make provision for the planting and maintenance of trees, shrubs or plants of any other description on the land and for restricting the lopping or removal of trees, shrubs or other plants on the land.

An agreement under this section may contain such incidental and consequential provisions (including provisions of a financial character) as appear to the roads authority to be necessary or expedient.

Subject to subsection (4) below, the provisions of an agreement made under this section with a person interested in land shall be binding on persons deriving title from that person in respect of the land.

No provision shall be enforceable by virtue of subsection (3) above against a third party who shall have in good faith and for value acquired right (whether completed by infeftment or not) to land prior to the agreement being registered in the Land Register of Scotland or, as the case may be, recorded in the Register of Sasines, or against any person deriving title from such third party.

This section is without prejudice to F31section 75 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (agreements regulating development or use of land).

The Secretary of State may provide on land adjoining, or in the vicinity of, a trunk road, or a proposed public road which is to be a trunk road, a picnic site with space for parking vehicles and with means of access from and egress to the road or proposed road; and subject to subsection (3) below he may manage and maintain the site (including such buildings, works or facilities as are mentioned in subsection (2) below.)

The Secretary of State shall not provide meals or refreshments on the picnic site but may make arrangements for some person other than a F32local authority so to provide and may for the purpose of those arrangements lease the site, or a part thereof, to that other person.

The Scottish Ministers shall publish any determination made by them in accordance with subsection (2) above.

Any project for the improvement of a special road which falls within Annex II shall be treated as having characteristics that require it to be made subject to an environmental impact assessment.

The Scottish Ministers shall publish any environmental statement so as to ensure that members of the public who are likely to be concerned are given a reasonable opportunity to express an opinion before they decide whether to proceed with the project, and they shall not make any such decision without taking into consideration any opinion so expressed to them within a period of 3 weeks running from the date of publication of the environmental statement.

The Scottish Ministers shall ensure that the consultation bodies are given an opportunity to express an opinion on the published details of the project and the environmental statement before they decide whether to proceed with the project.

In this section, the expressions “the Directive”, “Annex”, “relevant project” and “sensitive area” shall have the meanings assigned to those expressions in section 20A(9) of this Act with the proviso that in the definition of “relevant project” the reference to the construction of a new road shall be a reference to the improvement of a road and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly.

Subject to section 61 of this Act and without prejudice to any requirement imposed by, under or by virtue of any other enactment, no works shall be executed in, or excavation made under, a public road except with the roads authority’s consent in writing and in accordance with any reasonable conditions which they think fit to attach to the consent.

An application for the consent of a roads authority under subsection (1) above shall be in writing. On receipt of the application they shall give the applicant notice of all statutory undertakers whose apparatus is, in the opinion of the authority, likely to be affected by the works or excavation and the applicant shall then forthwith in writing intimate the application to those undertakers of whom he has received such notice.

This section does not apply to works or excavations to which the F36provisions of Part IV of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 apply.

At the completion of the works or excavation mentioned in subsection (1) above any opening left in the road shall be provided with a door or cover by the person executing the works or making the excavation; and such door or cover shall be constructed in such manner, and of such materials, as may be specified by the roads authority.

Works executed, or an excavation made, in contravention of subsection (1) above may be removed, or as the case may be filled in, by the roads authority; and the authority may recover such expenses as are reasonably incurred in so doing, or in maintaining an excavation which has under this subsection been filled in, from the person who executed those works or made that excavation.

The roads authority shall, where practicable, notify the person mentioned in subsection (7) above about anything removed under that subsection; but if the person cannot be traced, or if he has not recovered the thing within a reasonable period of time after being so notified, the authority may dispose of the thing.

Any proceeds of a disposal under subsection (8)

above shall be used to meet any such expenses in relation to the removal or filling in as are mentioned in subsection (7) above. Thereafter any surplus shall be given to the person so mentioned if he can be traced and if he cannot may be retained by the roads authority.

Where a person contravenes subsection (4) (other than by a failure duly to give information) or (5) above, the roads authority may make good the damage to the road, or as the case may be provide a door or cover for the opening, and recover from him such expenses as are reasonably incurred in so doing.

Where, in the opinion of the roads authority, works which a person is executing in, or excavations which he is making under, a road are causing, or are likely to cause, a danger the authority may by notice to him require him within such period as may be specified in the notice to take such steps as will ensure that such danger is brought to an end or as the case may be does not arise.

Notwithstanding any consent granted under section 56 or 61 of this Act and without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) above, steps specified in the notice under that subsection may include the removal of the works or filling in of the excavations.

Subsections (1) and (2) above do not apply to works or excavations which are in contravention of section 56(1) or 61(1) of this Act.

This section does not apply to works or excavations to which the F37provisions of Part IV of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 apply.

A person upon whom a notice has been served under subsection (1)

above may within 28 days of such service refer the matter by summary application to the sheriff; and the decision of the sheriff on the matter shall be final.

Subject to subsection (7) below, a person who without, or otherwise than in accordance with, the written permission of the roads authority, in conducting operations for the construction, repair, maintenance or demolition of any building, occupies for the purpose of depositing materials or otherwise in connection with those operations, a part of a road, whether public or private, or erects staging or scaffolding which projects over a part of a road, commits an offence.

Such permission as is mentioned in subsection (1) above may be granted either unconditionally or subject to such conditions, including conditions as to the duration of the permission, as may be specified therein; and notwithstanding anything in any enactment or in any rule of law, a person who complies with the permission (including the conditions) does not by the occupation or erection in respect of which the permission is granted commit an offence:

Subject to subsection (7) below, where a person by such occupation as is mentioned in subsection (1) above commits an offence under that subsection, any other person who, in connection with the operations, either by himself or by his servant or agent, deposits materials on the part of the road so occupied commits an offence.

Where a person is charged with an offence under subsection (1) above it shall be a defence for him to prove that he took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence to avoid the commission of the offence.

If in any case the defence provided by subsection (5) above involves the allegation that the offence took place on the instructions, or by the authority, of another person, or was due to reliance on information supplied by another person, the person charged shall not, without leave of the court, be entitled to rely on that defence unless, within a period ending seven days before the hearing, he has served on the prosecutor notice giving such information identifying or assisting in the identification of that other person as is then in his possession.

The occupation mentioned in the foregoing provisions of this section does not include occupation with a builder’s skip (within the meaning of section 85 of this Act).

Subject to subsection (6) below, nothing shall be placed or deposited in a road so as to cause an obstruction except with the roads authority’s consent in writing and in accordance with any reasonable conditions which they think fit to attach to the consent.

A person who contravenes subsection (1) above commits an offence.

Without prejudice to subsection (2) above, a person who contravenes subsection (1) above may be required by the roads authority or by a constable in uniform to remove the obstruction forthwith, and commits an offence if he fails to do so.