The Network Rail (West Coast Main Line) Order 2003

31.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), any specified work, and all protective works required by the Agency under paragraph 30, shall be constructed—

(a) within three years of the Agency’s approval under paragraph 29 or such longer period as the Agency may consent to at the time of the approval or upon an application by Network Rail thereafter (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld);

(b) in accordance with the plans approved or deemed to have been approved or settled under this Part of this Schedule; and

(c) to the reasonable satisfaction of the Agency,

and the Agency shall be entitled by its officer to watch and inspect the construction of such works.

(2) Without prejudice to any reasonable requirements of the Agency under paragraph 30 relating to protective works, if any specified work or protective work is not constructed within the period required under sub-paragraph (1)(a), Network Rail may submit to the Agency new plans of the work for further approval and the provisions of this Part of this Schedule shall apply accordingly.

(3) Network Rail shall give to the Agency not less than 14 days' notice in writing of its intention to commence construction of any specified work and notice in writing of its completion not later than 7 days after the date on which it is brought into use.

(4) If any part of a specified work or any protective work required by the Agency is constructed otherwise than in accordance with the requirements of this Part of this Schedule, the Agency may by notice in writing require Network Rail, at Network Rail’s own expense, to comply with the requirements of this Part of this Schedule or (if Network Rail so elects and the Agency in writing consents, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) to remove, alter or pull down the work and, where removal is required, to restore the site to its former condition to such extent and within such limits as the Agency reasonably requires.

(5) Subject to sub-paragraph (6) and paragraph 35, if within a reasonable period, being not less than 28 days from the date when a notice under sub-paragraph (4) is served upon Network Rail, it has failed to begin taking steps to comply with the requirements of the notice and thereafter to make reasonably expeditious progress towards their implementation, the Agency may execute the works specified in the notice and any expenditure incurred by it in so doing shall be recoverable from Network Rail.

(6) In the event of any dispute as to whether sub-paragraph (4) is applicable to any work in respect of which notice has been served under that sub-paragraph, or as to the reasonableness of any requirement of such a notice, the Agency shall not, except in emergency, exercise the powers conferred by sub-paragraph (5) until the dispute has been fully determined.