Streetworks Bill

House of Commons

Session 1998-99
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Other Bills before Parliament

Streetworks Bill

This is the text of the Streetworks Bill, as presented to the House of Commons on 13 January 1999.

Streetworks Bill

ARRANGEMENT OF CLAUSES

Clause

1. Duties of persons undertaking street works.

2. Charges.

3. Short title, commencement and extent.

A
B I L L
TO
Amend the law relating to streetworks; to make provision for a streetworks registration scheme; and for connected purposes.
BE IT ENACTED by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:-

Duties of persons undertaking street works.     1. After section 60 (general duty of undertakers to co-operate) of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (in this Act referred to as "the 1991 Act") there shall be inserted the following new section-

"Duties of undertakers (supplementary).     60A. - (1) An undertaker undertaking street works shall-

(a) take (at his own expense) such measures to alleviate any obstruction of the highway or to improve the flow of traffic as the street authority may direct;

(b) place signs, in a form and at locations agreed with the street authority, stating-

(i) the name of the undertaker;

(ii) the purpose of the works;

(iii) the estimated date of completion of the works; and

(iv) a telephone number at which either the undertaker or the contractor undertaking the works may be contacted at any time.

    (2) An undertaker who fails to comply with a requirement under subsection (1) shall be liable to pay a charge to the highway authority in accordance with regulations made under section 74 below.".

Charges.     2. - (1) The Secretary of State shall, within six months of the coming into force of this Act, make the regulations provided for in section 74 of the 1991 Act (charge for occupation of the highway where works unreasonably prolonged).

    (2) For section 74(5) of the 1991 Act there shall be substituted-

    "(5) The Secretary of State shall issue guidance on the calculation of charges under this section and under section 60A above, which shall include guidance on the account that is to be taken of-

(a) the length of time taken to complete the works;

(b) the extent to which the works are an obstruction to traffic on the highway;

(c) the volume of traffic affected on the highway;

(d) the inconvenience or delay caused to users of the highway; and

(e) the extent to which local businesses are affected by the works.

    (5A) A highway authority shall apply monies received under this section or under section 60A to the maintenance of roads for which it is responsible.".

Short title, commencement and extent.     3. - (1) This Act may be cited as the Streetworks Act 1999.

    (2) This Act shall come into force on the expiration of a period of one month beginning with the date on which it is passed.

    (3) This Act extends to England and Wales only.

© Parliamentary copyright 1999
Prepared 5 March 1999