New Roads and Street Works Act 1991

66 Avoidance of unnecessary delay or obstruction. E+W

(1) An undertaker executing street works which involve—

(a) breaking up or opening the street, or any sewer, drain or tunnel under it, or

(b) tunnelling or boring under the street,

shall carry on and complete the works with all such dispatch as is reasonably practicable.

(2) An undertaker who fails to do so commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [F1 level 5] on the standard scale.

(3) Where an undertaker executing any street works creates an obstruction in a street to a greater extent or for a longer period than is reasonably necessary, the street authority may by notice require him to take such reasonable steps as are specified in the notice to mitigate or discontinue the obstruction.

(4) If the undertaker fails to comply with such a notice within 24 hours of receiving it, or any longer period specified in the notice, the authority may take the necessary steps and recover from him the costs reasonably incurred by them in doing so.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 66(2) 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)

C1 Pt. 3 modified (11.2.2005) by The Merseytram (Liverpool City Centre to Kirkby) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/120), arts. 1, 4(1)(2) (with arts. 65, 66)

C2 Pt. 3 modified (22.3.2005) by The Midland Metro (Wednesbury to Brierley Hill and Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/927), art. 3(1)(2) (with art. 51)

C3 Pt. 3 modified (22.7.2005) by The Midland Metro (Birmingham City Centre Extension, etc.) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/1794), arts. 1, 3(1)(2) (with art. 47)

C4 Pt. 3 applied (3.8.2005) by The Greater Manchester (Leigh Busway) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/1918), arts. 1, 3(1)

C5 Pt. 3 modified (26.8.2005) by The River Tyne (Tunnels) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/2222), arts. 1, 8(7) (with arts. 45(1), 48, Sch. 10 paras. 21, 29)

C6 Pt. 3 restricted (8.10.2005) by The Leicestershire County Council (Ashby de la Zouch Canal Extension) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/2786), arts. 1, 10(3)

C7 Pt. 3 modified (8.10.2005) by The Leicestershire County Council (Ashby de la Zouch Canal Extension) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/2786), arts. 1, 9(1)

C8 Pt. 3 modified (25.11.2005) by The Docklands Light Railway (Capacity Enhancement) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/3105), arts. 1, 3(1) (with arts. 3(5), 15(3))

C9 Pt. 3 applied (11.1.2006) by The Cambridgeshire Guided Busway Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/3523), arts. 1, 3(1) (with art. 52)

C10 Pt. 3 modified (1.2.2011) by The River Mersey (Mersey Gateway Bridge) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/41), arts. 1, 3(1) (with art. 51, Sch. 10 paras. 68, 85)

C11 S. 66 excluded (E.) (1.4.2008) by The Traffic Management Permit Scheme (England) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/3372), regs. 1(1), 36(f) (with reg. 35)

C12 S. 66 disapplied (W.) (1.6.2009) by The Traffic Management Permit Scheme (Wales) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1267), regs. 1, 36(f)

C13 S. 66 disapplied (11.1.2010) by The Traffic Management (London Borough of Brent) Permit Scheme Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/3142), art. 1, Sch., Appendix B

C14 S. 66 disapplied (11.1.2010) by The Traffic Management (London Borough of Hounslow) Permit Scheme Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/3178), art. 1, Sch., Appendix B

C15 S. 66 disapplied (11.1.2010) by The Traffic Management (Transport for London) Permit Scheme Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/3186), art. 1, Sch., Appendix B

C16 S. 66 disapplied (11.1.2010) by The Traffic Management (London Borough of Wandsworth) Permit Scheme Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/3189), art. 1, Sch., Appendix B

C17 S. 66 disapplied (11.1.2010) by The Traffic Management (London Borough of Bromley) Permit Scheme Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/3148), art. 1, Sch., Appendix B

C18 S. 66 disapplied (11.1.2010) by The Traffic Management (London Borough of Barnet) Permit Scheme Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/3141), art. 1, Sch., Appendix B

C19 S. 66 disapplied (11.1.2010) by The Traffic Management (London Borough of Redbridge) Permit Scheme Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/3179), art. 1, Sch., Appendix B

C20 S. 66 disapplied (11.1.2010) by The Traffic Management (London Borough of Enfield) Permit Scheme Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/3165), art. 1, Sch., Appendix B

C21 S. 66 disapplied (11.1.2010) by The Traffic Management (London Borough of Ealing) Permit Scheme Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/3163), art. 1, Sch., Appendix B

C22 S. 66 disapplied (11.1.2010) by The Traffic Management (London Borough of Lewisham) Permit Scheme Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/3171), art. 1, Sch., Appendix B

C23 S. 66 disapplied (11.1.2010) by The Traffic Management (London Borough of Hackney) Permit Scheme Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/3167), art. 1, Sch., Appendix B

C24 S. 66 disapplied (11.1.2010) by The Traffic Management (Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea) Permit Scheme Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/3170), art. 1, Sch., Appendix B

C25 S. 66 disapplied (11.1.2010) by The Traffic Management (London Borough of Croydon) Permit Scheme Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/3158), art. 1, Sch., Appendix B

C26 S. 66 disapplied (11.1.2010) by The Traffic Management (London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham) Permit Scheme Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/3168), art. 1, Sch., Appendix B

C27 S. 66 disapplied (11.1.2010) by The Traffic Management (London Borough of Camden) Permit Scheme Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/3149), art. 1, Sch., Appendix B

C28 S. 66 disapplied (11.1.2010) by The Traffic Management (City of London Corporation) Permit Scheme Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/3162), art. 1, Sch., Appendix B

C29 S. 66 disapplied (11.1.2010) by The Traffic Management (London Borough of Haringey) Permit Scheme Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/3169), art. 1, Sch., Appendix B

C30 S. 66 disapplied (11.1.2010) by The Traffic Management (City of Westminster) Permit Scheme Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/3187), art. 1, Sch., Appendix B

C31 S. 66 disapplied (11.1.2010) by The Traffic Management (London Borough of Islington) Permit Scheme Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/3180), art. 1, Sch., Appendix B

C32 S. 66 disapplied (25.1.2010) by The Traffic Management (Kent County Council) Permit Scheme Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/3188), art. 1, Sch.

C33 S. 66 disapplied (5.9.2011) by The Traffic Management (London Borough of Harrow) Permit Scheme Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1961), art. 1, Sch., Appendix B

C34 S. 66 disapplied (5.9.2011) by The Traffic Management (London Borough of Newham) Permit Scheme Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1962), art. 1, Sch., Appendix B

C35 S. 66 disapplied (5.9.2011) by The Traffic Management (London Borough of Southwark) Permit Scheme Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1957), art. 1, Sch., Appendix B

C36 S. 66 disapplied (5.9.2011) by The Traffic Management (London Borough of Lambeth) Permit Scheme Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1958), art. 1, Sch., Appendix B

C37 S. 66 disapplied (5.9.2011) by The Traffic Management (London Borough of Waltham Forest) Permit Scheme Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1959), art. 1, Sch., Appendix B

C38 S. 66 disapplied (5.9.2011) by The Traffic Management (London Borough of Greenwich) Permit Scheme Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1956), art. 1, Sch., Appendix B

C39 S. 66 disapplied (5.9.2011) by The Traffic Management (London Borough of Richmond upon Thames) Permit Scheme Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1960), art. 1, Sch., Appendix B

C40 S. 66 disapplied (28.11.2011) by The Traffic Management (London Borough of Hillingdon) Permit Scheme Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/2600), art. 1, Sch., Appendix B

C41 S. 66 disapplied (28.11.2011) by The Traffic Management (London Borough of Barking and Dagenham) Permit Scheme Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/2599), art. 1, Sch., Appendix B

C42 S. 66(3)(4): functions of a local authority made exercisable by, or by employees of, such person as may be authorised in that behalf by the local highway authority whose function it is (23.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/2106, art. 2, Sch. 2 para. 1(j)