New Roads and Street Works Act 1991

57 Notice of emergency works.E+W

(1)Nothing in section 54 (advance notice), section 55 (notice of starting date) or section 56 (directions as to timing of works) [F1or paragraph 2(1)(d) or 3(1) of Schedule 3A (notification of proposed works or directions as to timings of works)] affects the right of an undertaker to execute emergency works.

(2)An undertaker executing emergency works shall, if the works are of a kind in respect of which notice is [F2(or would, but for paragraph 2(6) of Schedule 3A, be)] required by section 55, give notice as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any event within two hours (or such other period as may be prescribed) of the works being begun, to the persons to whom notice would be required to be given under that section.

(3)The notice shall state his intention or, as the case may be, the fact that he has begun to execute the works and shall contain such other information as may be prescribed.

(4)An undertaker who fails to give notice in accordance with this section commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [F3level 4] on the standard scale.

(5)In proceedings against a person for such an offence it is a defence for him to show that the contravention was attributable—

(a)to his not knowing the position, or not knowing of the existence, of another person’s apparatus, or

(b)to his not knowing the identity or address of—

(i)a relevant authority, or

(ii)the person to whom any apparatus belongs,

and that his ignorance was not due to any negligence on his part or to any failure to make inquiries which he ought reasonably to have made.

Textual Amendments

F3Words in s. 57(4) substituted (4.10.2004 for E., 26.11.2007 for W.) by Traffic Management Act 2004 (c. 18), ss. 40(1)(2), 99(1), Sch. 1; S.I. 2004/2380, art. 2(d)(i) (with art. 3); S.I. 2007/3174, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 4)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C20Pt. 3 applied (with modifications) (9.4.2013) by The Hinkley Point C (Nuclear Generating Station) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/648), arts. 1, 9 (with arts. 48, 68, 79)

C23Pt. 3 modified (20.11.2013) by The M1 Junction 10a (Grade Separation) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/2808), arts. 1, 8(1)(2)

C44Pt. 3 applied (with modifications) (2.1.2018) by The Boston Barrier Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/1329), arts. 1, 3(2) (with arts. 55-57, Sch. 8 para. 13)

C64Pt. 3 modified (6.6.2022) by The M25 Junction 28 Development Consent Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/573), arts. 1, 10(1)(2) (with arts. 5, 36) (as amended (7.2.2024) by S.I. 2024/129, art. 1, Sch.)

C77S. 57 modified (27.11.1992) by S.I. 1992/2984, art. 5

C78S. 57 applied (with modifications) (11.11.1996) by S.I. 1996/2714, art. 4(2)(3)

S. 57 applied (27.8.1998) by S.I. 1998/1936, art. 4(3)

S. 57 applied (21.5.1997) by S.I. 1997/1266, art. 5(2)(3)

S. 57 applied (with modifications) (24.7.2001) by S.I. 2001/3627, art. 4(3)(4)

C85S. 57 applied (with modifications) (11.1.2006) by The Cambridgeshire Guided Busway Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/3523), arts. 1, 3(3)(4) (with art. 52)

C158S. 57 applied (with modifications) (21.8.2013) by The Croxley Rail Link Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/1967), arts. 1, 4(1)(2)

C175S. 57 applied (with modifications) (19.8.2014) by The Network Rail (Huyton) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/2027), arts. 1, 4(4) (with art. 31(2))

C185S. 57 applied (with modifications) (31.12.2014) by The Hornsea One Offshore Wind Farm Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/3331), arts. 1, 7(1)(2) (with arts. 37, 38)

C222Ss. 54-106 applied (with modifications) (25.3.2016) by The Thorpe Marsh Gas Pipeline Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/297), arts. 1, 12(3) (with art. 39)

C245S. 57 applied (with modifcations) (2.1.2018) by The Boston Barrier Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/1329), arts. 1, 3(4)(5) (with arts. 55-57, Sch. 8 para. 13)

C251S. 57 applied (with modifications) (13.3.2019) by The Port of Tilbury (Expansion) Order 2019 (S.I. 2019/359), arts. 1, 9(4)(5) (with arts. 55, 56)

C266S. 57 applied (with modifications) (19.6.2020) by The Cleve Hill Solar Park Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/547), arts. 1, 9(2)(b)(h) (with art. 37)

C282S. 57 applied (with modifications) (25.3.2022) by The Bridgwater Tidal Barrier Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/299), arts. 1, 3(4)-(6) (with art. 55)

C296Ss. 54-106 applied (with modifications) (4.11.2022) by The A47/A11 Thickthorn Junction Development Consent Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/1070), arts. 1, 15(3) (with arts. 4, 52, Sch. 9 para. 82)