The Portishead Branch Line (MetroWest Phase 1) Order 2022

PART 2 Protection for Electricity, Gas, Water, Petroleum and Sewerage Undertakers.

22.  The following provisions of this Part of this Schedule have effect, unless otherwise agreed in writing between the undertaker and the utility undertaker concerned.

23.  In this Part of this Schedule—

“alternative apparatus” means alternative apparatus adequate to enable the utility undertaker in question to fulfil its statutory functions in a manner not less efficient than previously;

“apparatus” means—

(a)

in the case of an electricity undertaker, electric lines or electrical plant (as defined in the Electricity Act 1989(1)), belonging to or maintained by that undertaker for the purposes of electricity supply;

(b)

in the case of a gas undertaker, any mains, pipes or other apparatus belonging to or maintained by a gas transporter within the meaning of Part 1 of the Gas Act 1986(2) for the purposes of gas supply;

(c)

in the case of a water undertaker, mains, pipes or other apparatus belonging to or maintained by that undertaker for the purposes of water supply; and

(d)

in the case of a sewerage undertaker—

(i)

any drain or works vested in the undertaker under the Water Industry Act 1991(3); and

(ii)

any sewer which is so vested or is the subject of a notice of intention to adopt given under section 102(4)(4) (adoption of sewers and disposal works) of that Act or an agreement to adopt made under section 104(5) (agreements to adopt sewer, drain or sewage disposal works, at future date) of that Act,

and includes a sludge main, disposal main (within the meaning of section 219 (general interpretation) of that Act) or sewer outfall and any manholes, ventilating shafts, pumps or other accessories forming part of any such sewer, drain or works,

and includes any structure in which apparatus is or is to be lodged or which gives or will give access to apparatus;

“functions” includes powers and duties;

“in” in a context referring to apparatus or alternative apparatus in land includes a reference to apparatus or alternative apparatus under, over or upon land; and

“utility undertaker” means—

(a)

any licence holder within the meaning of Part 1 of the Electricity Act 1989(6);

(b)

a gas transporter within the meaning of Part 1 of the Gas Act 1986;

(c)

a water undertaker within the meaning of the Water Industry Act 1991; and

(d)

a sewerage undertaker within the meaning of Part 1 of the Water Industry Act 1991,

for the area of the authorised development, and in relation to any apparatus, means the utility undertaker to whom it belongs or by whom it is maintained.

On street apparatus

24.  This Part of this Schedule does not apply to apparatus in respect of which the relations between the undertaker and the utility undertaker are regulated by the provisions of Part 3 of the 1991 Act.

Acquisition of land

25.  Regardless of any provision in this Order or anything shown on the land plans, the undertaker must not acquire any apparatus otherwise than by agreement.

Removal of apparatus

26.—(1) If, in the exercise of the powers conferred by this Order, the undertaker acquires any interest in any land in which any apparatus is placed, that apparatus must not be removed under this Part of this Schedule, and any right of a utility undertaker to maintain that apparatus in that land must not be extinguished, until alternative apparatus has been constructed and is in operation to the reasonable satisfaction of the utility undertaker in question.

(2) If, for the purpose of executing any works in, on or under any land purchased, held, appropriated or used under this Order, the undertaker requires the removal of any apparatus placed in that land, it must give to the utility undertaker in question written notice of that requirement, together with a plan and section of the work proposed, and of the proposed position of the alternative apparatus to be provided or constructed and in that case (or if in consequence of the exercise of any of the powers conferred by this Order a utility undertaker reasonably needs to remove any of its apparatus) the undertaker must, subject to sub-paragraph (3), afford to the utility undertaker the necessary facilities and rights for the construction of alternative apparatus in other land of the undertaker and subsequently for the maintenance of that apparatus.

(3) If alternative apparatus or any part of such apparatus is to be constructed elsewhere than in other land of the undertaker, or the undertaker is unable to afford such facilities and rights as are mentioned in sub-paragraph (2) in the land in which the alternative apparatus or part of such apparatus is to be constructed, the utility undertaker in question must, on receipt of a written notice to that effect from the undertaker, as soon as reasonably possible use its best endeavours to obtain the necessary facilities and rights in the land in which the alternative apparatus is to be constructed.

(4) Any alternative apparatus to be constructed in land of the undertaker under this Part of this Schedule is to be constructed in such manner and in such line or situation as may be agreed between the utility undertaker in question and the undertaker or in default of agreement settled by arbitration in accordance with article 56 (arbitration).

(5) The utility undertaker in question must, after the alternative apparatus to be provided or constructed has been agreed or settled by arbitration in accordance with article 56, and after the grant to the utility undertaker of any such facilities and rights as are referred to in sub-paragraph (2) or (3), proceed without unnecessary delay to construct and bring into operation the alternative apparatus and subsequently to remove any apparatus required by the undertaker to be removed under the provisions of this Part of this Schedule.

(6) Regardless of anything in sub-paragraph (5), if the undertaker gives notice in writing to the utility undertaker in question that the undertaker desires itself to execute any work, or part of any work in connection with the construction or removal of apparatus in any land of the undertaker, that work, instead of being executed by the utility undertaker, must be executed by the undertaker without unnecessary delay under the superintendence, if given, and to the reasonable satisfaction of the utility undertaker.

(7) Nothing in sub-paragraph (6) authorises the undertaker to execute the placing, installation, bedding, packing, removal, connection or disconnection of any apparatus, or execute any filling around the apparatus (where the apparatus is laid in a trench) within 300 millimetres of the apparatus.

Facilities and rights for alternative apparatus

27.—(1) Where, in accordance with the provisions of this Part of this Schedule, the undertaker affords to a utility undertaker facilities and rights for the construction and maintenance in land of the undertaker of alternative apparatus in substitution for apparatus to be removed, those facilities and rights are to be granted upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed between the undertaker and the utility undertaker in question or in default of agreement settled by arbitration in accordance with article 56 (arbitration).

(2) In settling those terms and conditions in respect of alternative apparatus to be constructed in or along any railway, the arbitrator must—

(a) give effect to all reasonable requirements of Network Rail for ensuring the safety and efficient operation of the railway which forms or is to form part of Network Rail’s network and for securing any subsequent alterations or adaptations of the alternative apparatus which may be required to prevent interference with any proposed works of Network Rail or the undertaker or the traffic on the railway; and

(b) so far as it may be reasonable and practicable to do so in the circumstances of the particular case, give effect to the terms and conditions, if any, applicable to the apparatus constructed in or along the railway for which the alternative apparatus is to be substituted.

(3) If the facilities and rights to be afforded by the undertaker in respect of any alternative apparatus, and the terms and conditions subject to which those facilities and rights are to be granted, are in the opinion of the arbitrator less favourable on the whole to the utility undertaker in question than the facilities and rights enjoyed by it in respect of the apparatus to be removed and the terms and conditions to which those facilities and rights are subject, the arbitrator must make such provision for the payment of compensation by the undertaker to that utility undertaker as appears to the arbitrator to be reasonable having regard to all the circumstances of the particular case.

Retained apparatus

28.—(1) Not less than 28 days before starting the execution of any works of the type referred to in paragraph 26(2) that are near to, or will or may affect, any apparatus the removal of which has not been required by the undertaker under paragraph 26(2), the undertaker must submit to the utility undertaker in question a plan, section and description of the works to be executed.

(2) Those works are to be executed only in accordance with the plan, section and description submitted under sub-paragraph (1) and in accordance with such reasonable requirements as may be made in accordance with sub-paragraph (3) by the utility undertaker for the alteration or otherwise for the protection of the apparatus, or for securing access to it, and the utility undertaker is entitled to watch and inspect the execution of those works.

(3) Any requirements made by a utility undertaker under sub-paragraph (2) must be made within a period of 21 days beginning with the date on which a plan, section and description under sub–paragraph (1) are submitted to it.

(4) If a utility undertaker in accordance with sub-paragraph (3) and in consequence of the works proposed by the undertaker, reasonably requires the removal of any apparatus and gives written notice to the undertaker of that requirement, paragraphs 23 to 27 apply as if the removal of the apparatus had been required by the undertaker under paragraph 26(2).

(5) Nothing in this paragraph precludes the undertaker from submitting at any time or from time to time, but in no case less than 28 days before commencing the execution of any works, a new plan, section and description instead of the plan, section and description previously submitted, and having done so the provisions of this paragraph apply to and in respect of the new plan, section and description.

(6) The undertaker is not required to comply with sub-paragraph (1) in a case of emergency but in that case it must give to the utility undertaker in question notice as soon as is reasonably practicable and a plan, section and description of those works as soon as reasonably practicable subsequently and must comply with sub-paragraph (2) in so far as is reasonably practicable in the circumstances.

Expenses and costs

29.—(1) Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph, the undertaker must repay to a utility undertaker the reasonable expenses incurred by that utility undertaker in, or in connection with, the inspection, removal, alteration or protection of any apparatus or the construction of any new apparatus (including costs or compensation payable in connection with the acquisition of land for that purpose) which may be required in consequence of the execution of any such works as are referred to in paragraph 26(2).

(2) The value of any apparatus removed under the provisions of this Part of this Schedule is to be deducted from any sum payable under sub-paragraph (1), that value being calculated after removal.

(3) If in accordance with the provisions of this Part of this Schedule—

(a) apparatus of better type, of greater capacity or of greater dimensions is placed in substitution for existing apparatus of worse type, of smaller capacity or of smaller dimensions; or

(b) apparatus (whether existing apparatus or apparatus substituted for existing apparatus) is placed at a depth greater than the depth at which the existing apparatus was,

and the placing of apparatus of that type or capacity or of those dimensions or the placing of apparatus at that depth, as the case may be, is not agreed by the undertaker or, in default of agreement, is not determined by arbitration in accordance with article 56 (arbitration) to be necessary, then, if such placing involves cost in the construction of works under this Part of this Schedule exceeding that which would have been involved if the apparatus placed had been of the existing type, capacity or dimensions, or at the existing depth, as the case may be, the amount which apart from this sub-paragraph would be payable to the utility undertaker in question by virtue of sub-paragraph (1) is to be reduced by the amount of that excess.

(4) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (3)—

(a) an extension of apparatus to a length greater than the length of existing apparatus must not be treated as a placing of apparatus of greater dimensions than those of the existing apparatus; and

(b) where the provision of a joint in a cable is agreed, or is determined to be necessary, the consequential provision of a jointing chamber or of a manhole must be treated as if it also had been agreed or had been so determined.

(5) An amount which apart from this sub-paragraph would be payable to a utility undertaker in respect of works by virtue of sub-paragraph (1) must, if the works include the placing of apparatus provided in substitution for apparatus placed more than 7 years and 6 months earlier so as to confer on the utility undertaker any financial benefit by deferment of the time for renewal of the apparatus in the ordinary course, be reduced by the amount which represents that benefit.

Indemnity

30.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraphs (2) and (3), if by reason or in consequence of the construction of any such works referred to in paragraph 26(2), any damage is caused to any apparatus (other than apparatus the repair of which is not reasonably necessary in view of its intended removal for the purposes of those works) or property of a utility undertaker, or there is any interruption in any service provided, or in the supply of any goods, by any utility undertaker, the undertaker must—

(a) bear and pay the cost reasonably incurred by that utility undertaker in making good such damage or restoring the supply; and

(b) make reasonable compensation to that utility undertaker for any other expenses, loss, damages, penalty or costs incurred by the utility undertaker,

by reason or in consequence of any such damage or interruption.

(2) Nothing in sub-paragraph (1) imposes any liability on the undertaker with respect to any damage or interruption to the extent that it is attributable to the act, neglect or default of a utility undertaker, its officers, servants, contractors or agents.

(3) A utility undertaker must give the undertaker reasonable notice of any such claim or demand and no settlement or compromise is to be made without the consent of the undertaker which, if it withholds such consent, has the sole conduct of any settlement or compromise or of any proceedings necessary to resist the claim or demand.

31.  Nothing in this Part of this Schedule affects the provisions of any enactment or agreement regulating the relations between the undertaker or Network Rail and a utility undertaker in respect of any apparatus laid or erected in land belonging to the undertaker or Network Rail on the date on which this Order is made.

(1)

1989 c. 29. The definition of “electrical plant” in section 64 of the Act was amended by paragraph 38 of Schedule 6 to the Utilities Act 2000 (c. 27).

(2)

1986 c. 44. A new section 7 was substituted by section 5 of the Gas Act 1995 (c. 45), and was further amended by section 76 of the Utilities Act 2000 (c. 27).

(3)

1991 c. 56.

(4)

Section 102(4) was amended by sections 56 and 96(1)(c) to (e) of, and paragraphs 2 and 90 of Schedule 7 to, the Water Act 2014 (c. 21), and section 96(1) of the Water Act 2003 (c. 37).

(5)

Section 104 was amended by sections 96(4) and 101(2) of, and Part 3 of Schedule 9 to, the Water Act 2003 and section 42(3) of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 (c. 29)

(6)

1989 c. 29. A new section 6 was substituted by section 30 of the Utilities Act 2000 (c. 27) and was further amended by sections 136 and 145(5) to (7) of and Schedules 19 and 23(1) to the Energy Act 2004 (c. 20), S.I. 2012/2400 and S.I. 2011/2704. There are other amendments to section 6 but none are relevant to this Order.