PART 3Acquisition and Possession of Land

Powers of acquisition

Rights under or over streets

35.—(1) Merseytravel may enter upon and appropriate so much of the surface, subsoil of, or air-space over, any street shown on the works and land plans and described in the book of reference as may be required for the purposes of the authorised works and may use the surface, subsoil and air-space for those purposes or any other purpose connected with or ancillary to its tram system undertaking.

(2) The power under paragraph (1) may be exercised in relation to a street without Merseytravel being required to acquire any part of the street or any easement or right in the street and, except in relation to a street which is subject to stopping up pursuant to article 11, the powers of compulsory acquisition of land conferred by this Order shall not apply in relation to the street.

(3) Any person who is an owner or occupier of land in respect of which the power of appropriation conferred by paragraph (1) is exercised without Merseytravel acquiring any part of that person’s interest in the land, and who suffers loss by the exercise of that power, shall be entitled to compensation, the amount of such compensation to be determined, in case of dispute, under Part I of the 1961 Act.

(4) Paragraph (2) shall not apply in relation to—

(a)any subway or underground building; or

(b)any cellar, vault, arch or other construction in, on or under a street which forms part of a building fronting on to the street.

(5) Compensation shall not be payable under paragraph (3) to any person who is an undertaker, to whom section 85 of the 1991 Act applies, in respect of measures of which the allowable costs are to be borne in accordance with that section.