Title, commencement and application

1. The title of these Regulations is the Street Works (Charges for Unreasonably Prolonged Occupation of the Highway) (Wales) Regulations 2009. They come into force on 1 June 2009 and apply in relation to Wales.

Interpretation

2. In these Regulations–

• "the 1984 Act" ("Deddf 1984") means the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984(3);

• "the 1991 Act" ("Deddf 1991") means the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991;

• "the 1992 Regulations" ("Rheoliadau 1992") means the Street Works (Registers, Notices, Directions and Designations) Regulations 1992(4);

• "the 2004 Act" ("Deddf 2004") means the Traffic Management Act 2004(5);

• "address" ("cyfeiriad"), in relation to a particular method for transmitting an electronic communication, means any number or address used for the purposes of such method of transmission;

• "bridleway" ("llwybr ceffylau"), "footpath" ("llwybr troed") and "footway" ("troedffordd") have the meaning given in section 329(1) of the Highways Act 1980(6);

• "day" ("diwrnod") means a working day;

• "electronic communication" ("cyfathrebiad electronig") has the meaning given in section 15(1) of the Electronic Communications Act 2000(7);

• "immediate works" ("gwaith di-oed") means urgent works or emergency works(8);

• "limited designation" ("dynodiad cyfyngedig") means a designation in accordance with regulation 16(3) of the Street Works (Registers, Notices, Directions and Designations) (Wales) (No.2) Regulations 2008(9), for particular times or on particular dates;

• "major works" ("gwaith mawr") means–

  (a)

  street works which have been identified in the annual operating programme of an undertaker, or which, though not specifically identified in such programme, would normally be planned or known about at least six months in advance of the date proposed for the works;

  (b)

  street works, other than immediate works, where–

  (i)

  the street authority has indicated to an undertaker, or

  (ii)

  the undertaker considers,

  that an order under section 14 of the 1984 Act (temporary prohibition or restriction on roads) is required; or

  (c)

  street works, other than immediate works, the planned duration of which exceeds ten days;

• "minor works" ("mân waith") means, save as provided in regulation 8(8), street works, other than immediate works or major works, the planned duration of which does not exceed three days;

• "pedestrian planning order" ("gorchymyn cynllunio ar gyfer cerddwyr") means an order made under section 249(2) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990(10);

• "permit" ("trwydded") and "permit scheme" ("cynllun trwyddedau") are to be construed in accordance with section 32 of the 2004 Act;

• "Permit Authority" ("Awdurdod Trwyddedau") means–

  (a)

  a local highway authority in respect of which an order has been made under section 34(4) of the 2004 Act; or

  (b)

  the Welsh Ministers, as a highway authority, in respect of whom an order has been made under section 35(2) of that Act,

  giving effect to a permit scheme;

• "prescribed period" ("cyfnod rhagnodedig") means the period prescribed by regulation 6;

• "remedial works" ("gwaith adfer") are works carried out under section 72(3) of the 1991 Act;

• "road category" ("categori ffordd") means one of the road categories specified in paragraph 1.3.1 of Chapter S1 of the code of practice entitled "Specification for the Reinstatement of Openings in Highways" dated November 2006(11)and approved by the Welsh Ministers on 7 November 2006, as revised or re-issued from time to time;

• "standard axle" ("echel safonol") means an axle which exerts a force of 80 kilo Newtons;

• "standard works" ("gwaith safonol") means, save as provided in regulation 8(8), street works, other than immediate works or major works, the planned duration of which exceeds three days but does not exceed ten days;

• "statutory undertaker" ("ymgymerydd statudol") means a person entitled by virtue of a statutory right to carry out street works;

• "the Technical Specification" ("y Fanyleb Dechnegol") means the Technical Specification for the Electronic Transfer of Notifications produced by the Department for Transport and dated December 2008, as revised or re-issued from time to time;(12)

• "traffic order" ("gorchymyn traffig") means an order made under section 1 or 9 of the 1984 Act;

• "traffic-sensitive street" ("stryd sydd yn sensitif i draffig") means a street designated as traffic-sensitive under section 64 of the 1991 Act;

• "traffic-sensitive time" ("adeg sydd yn sensitif i draffig"), in relation to a traffic-sensitive street, means–

  (a)

  the times or dates specified in the case of a limited designation; and

  (b)

  any time in any other case; and

• "urgent works" ("gwaith brys")

  (a)

  means street works, other than emergency works, whose execution at the time when they are executed is required (or which the person responsible for the works believes on reasonable grounds to be required)–

  (i)

  to prevent or put an end to an unplanned interruption of any supply or service provided by an undertaker;

  (ii)

  to avoid substantial loss to an undertaker in relation to an existing service; or

  (iii)

  to reconnect supplies or services where an undertaker would be under a civil or criminal liability if the reconnection is delayed until after the expiry of the appropriate notice period; and

  (b)

  includes works which cannot reasonably be severed from such works.

Transitional arrangements

3. These Regulations do not apply to street works in Wales in respect of which an undertaker has given notice under section 54(1), 55(1) or 57 of the 1991 Act before the date on which they come into force(13).

Application of Regulations

4. These Regulations apply to every maintainable highway, other than a footpath, a bridleway, a highway in relation to which a pedestrian planning order is in force and a highway whose use by vehicular traffic is prohibited by a traffic order, unless that prohibition is in force only at particular times.

Notices

5.–(1) Subject to paragraph (2), an undertaker executing street works in a highway to which these Regulations apply must give the highway authority for that highway, notice in writing of the beginning of those works specifying the street in which the works are to be carried out ("actual start of works notice") not later than the end of the next day following the date on which the works begin.

(2) Where works are executed under a permit granted by a Permit Authority in a traffic-sensitive street or in a street in road category 0, 1 or 2 which is not a traffic-sensitive street, the period within which the actual start of works notice must be given in accordance with paragraph (1) will be the period applicable by virtue of paragraph 16.7 of the Code of Practice for Permits dated June 2009(14), as revised or re-issued from time to time.

(3) When an undertaker has–

(a) completed interim reinstatement of a highway;

(b) removed–

(i) all signing, lighting and guarding, and

(ii) all remaining spoil, unused materials and other plant; and

(c) returned the highway fully to public use,

that undertaker must give the highway authority notice that this has been done ("works clear notice") not later than the end of the next day following the date on which the highway was returned fully to public use.

(4) When an undertaker has–

(a) completed permanent reinstatement of a highway;

(b) removed–

(i) all signing, lighting and guarding, and

(ii) all remaining spoil, unused materials and other plant; and

(c) returned the highway fully to public use,

that undertaker must give the highway authority notice that this has been done ("works closed notice") not later than the end of the next day following the date on which the highway was returned fully to public use.

Prescribed period

6. In relation to an undertaker executing street works in a highway to which these Regulations apply, the period prescribed under section 74(1)(a) of the 1991 Act will be two days, starting on the date on which the works begin.

Duration of works

7. For the purposes of these Regulations, the duration of street works will only come to an end when the undertaker has–

(a) completed interim reinstatement, or as the case may be permanent reinstatement, of a highway;

(b) removed–

(i) all signing, lighting and guarding, and

(ii) all remaining spoil, unused materials and other plant; and

(c) returned the highway fully to public use.

Prescribed charges

8.–(1) Subject to paragraphs (2), (12) and (13), an undertaker executing street works in a highway to which these Regulations apply must pay the highway authority a charge to be determined in accordance with paragraphs (3) to (11).

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to–

(a) works–

(i) in a street which is not a traffic-sensitive street,

(ii) in the footway of a traffic-sensitive street at a traffic-sensitive time, or

(iii) in a traffic-sensitive street, other than at a traffic-sensitive time,

if the works do not involve breaking up the street or tunnelling or boring under it;

(b) works consisting only of the creation of holes of less than 3 centimetres in diameter, for investigatory purposes;

(c) replacing poles, lamp columns or signs in the same location; or

(d) pole testing.

(3) Subject to paragraphs (5) and (9), the charge will be of an amount calculated in accordance with paragraph (4) and is payable for each day, or part of a day, by which the duration of the works exceeds the longer of–

(a) the prescribed period, or

(b) a reasonable period(15).

(4) In relation to street works of a category set out in column 3 of Table 1, executed in a street of a description referred to in column 2 in relation to that category, the amount of the charge will be the amount set out in column 4.

(5) Subject to paragraph (9), the charge in relation to remedial works will be payable in accordance with paragraph (3) but will be calculated in accordance with paragraph (4) as if those works were, subject to paragraph (7), street works of the same category as the works set out in paragraph (6).

(6) The works referred to in paragraph (5) are those works in respect of which–

(a) there has been a failure to comply with the undertaker´s duties with respect to reinstatement; and

(b) the street authority has required the undertaker to carry out the remedial works.

(7) Where the works referred to in paragraph (6) were, at the time notice was given in respect of them under section 54(1), 55(1) or 57 of the 1991 Act, works which fell into one of the categories set out in column 2 of Table 2 for the purposes of the 1992 Regulations, those works will be treated, for the purposes of paragraph (5), as if they were in the equivalent category set out in column 3 in relation to that category.

(8) In paragraph (7), the expressions used in items 1 to 4 in column 2 of Table 2 have the meaning given in regulation 2 of the 1992 Regulations.

(9) The charge will consist of a single payment of £100 in respect of any works in the circumstances set out in paragraph (10), if the requirements of paragraph (11) are met.

(10) The circumstances referred to in paragraph (9) are that–

(a) subject to sub-paragraph (c), the undertaker has–

(i) completed interim reinstatement, or as the case may be permanent reinstatement, of a highway,

(ii) endeavoured to remove all signing, lighting and guarding, and

(iii) removed all remaining spoil, unused materials and other plant;

(b) but for paragraph (c), the duration of the works would not have exceeded the longer of the prescribed period or a reasonable period; and

(c) a single item of signing, lighting or guarding remains on the highway.

(11) The requirements referred to in paragraph (9) are that–

(a) the highway authority has–

(i) informed the undertaker of the identity and location of the single item referred to in paragraph (10)(c); and

(ii) requested the undertaker to remove it; and

(b) the undertaker has complied with the request by the end of the next day following the date on which the request was received.

(12) A highway authority may reduce the amount, or waive payment, of a charge–

(a) in any particular case,

(b) in such classes of case as they may decide,

(c) in all cases,

(d) in all cases other than a particular case, or

(e) in all cases other than such class of case as they may decide.

(13) Charges are only payable in respect of street works where the highway authority has given the undertaker, not later than three months after receipt of a works clear notice or a works closed notice, an account in writing setting out the charges payable.

Estimates of duration of works

9.–(1) Subject to paragraph (5), if an undertaker has reason to believe that the duration of the works will exceed the prescribed period, that undertaker must give the highway authority notice containing an estimate of their likely duration–

(a) in the case of works in connection with the initial placing of apparatus in the street in pursuance of a street works licence, together with the application for the licence;

(b) in the case of works (not being emergency works) together with–

(i) the notice under section 55 of the 1991 Act (notice of starting date), or

(ii) the notification under paragraph 2(1)(d) of Schedule 3A to that Act (notification of proposed works)(16); or

(c) in the case of emergency works, as soon as reasonably practicable after the works are begun.

(2) The period of duration contained in a notice given under paragraph (1) will be taken to be agreed by the authority to be reasonable unless they give written notice to the undertaker, within the relevant period set out in paragraph (3), that they object to the estimate.

(3) The relevant period referred to in paragraph (2) is–

(a) 5 days, in the case of major or standard works, and

(b) 2 days, in the case of minor or immediate works,

beginning with the date on which the authority receives the notice containing the estimate.

(4) A notice of objection given by an authority under paragraph (2) must contain their own estimate of a reasonable period for the duration of the works.

(5) This regulation will not apply where an undertaker proposes to carry out street works in respect of which a permit must be obtained from a Permit Authority.

Further and revised estimates of duration of works

10.–(1) Subject to paragraph (4), if it appears to an undertaker that, by reason of matters not previously foreseen or reasonably foreseeable, the duration of the works is likely to exceed–

(a) the prescribed period,

(b) the period stated in that undertaker´s previous estimate, or

(c) the period previously agreed or determined under section 74(2) of the 1991 Act to be a reasonable period,

the undertaker must give the highway authority written notice containing an estimate or revised estimate.

(2) Where notice is given under paragraph (1), any previous estimate, agreement or determination ceases to have effect and the period stated in the new estimate will be taken to be agreed by the highway authority to be reasonable, unless they give written notice to the undertaker, within the period set out in paragraph (3), that they object to the estimate.

(3) The period referred to in paragraph (2) is 2 days beginning with the date on which the authority received the notice containing the estimate or revised estimate.

(4) This regulation does not apply where a permit to carry out proposed street works has been granted by a Permit Authority.

Application of charges and keeping of accounts

11.–(1) A local highway authority may deduct from prescribed charges received from an undertaker the reasonable costs of operating the scheme under which they are paid and must apply the net proceeds for the purpose of developing or implementing policies for the promotion and encouragement of safe, integrated, efficient and economic transport facilities and services to, from and within their area.

(2) A local highway authority must keep accounts of sums paid by way of charges.

Offence

12. An undertaker who, without reasonable cause, fails to give any notice required by these Regulations commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

Form of notice

13.–(1) Any notice required by these Regulations must be in, or to the like effect as, the form contained in the Technical Specification.

(2) A notice must also include such other information as may be required by the Technical Specification to complete the parts of the form referred to in paragraph (1) which are indicated in that form as being relevant to the notice.

Manner of service of notice

14.–(1) Subject to paragraphs (2), (5) and (7), where an undertaker is required to give notice to a highway authority in accordance with regulation 5, such notice must be given by–

(a) sending it to the highway authority at its proper address by using an electronic communication in accordance with the condition set out in paragraph (4);

(b) delivering it to that authority at that address; or

(c) any other means agreed between the undertaker and the authority.

(2) Where a highway authority to whom an undertaker is obliged to give such notice does not have arrangements for receiving and responding to notices for any period between 4.30 pm and 8.00 am the following day, the undertaker will have complied with that obligation if a notice is served by 10.00 am on that following day.

(3) Subject to paragraphs (5) and (7), in any other case where a person is required to give a notice under these Regulations, such notice will be given by–

(a) sending it to the person to whom it is to be given at that person´s proper address by using an electronic communication in accordance with the condition set out in paragraph (4);

(b) sending it by first class post to that person at that address;

(c) delivering it to that person;

(d) leaving it at that person´s proper address; or

(e) any other means agreed between the person giving it and the person to whom it is to be given.

(4) The condition referred to in paragraphs (1)(a) and (3)(a) is that the notice must be–

(a) capable of being accessed by the person to whom it is being sent;

(b) legible in all material respects; and

(c) in a form which permits the notice to be retained for subsequent reference,

and for this purpose "legible in all material respects" means that the information contained in the notice is available to that person to no lesser extent than it would be if given by means of a notice in printed form.

(5) Subject to paragraph (7), from and including 1 September 2009 all notices required to be given under these Regulations by a highway authority or a statutory undertaker must be exchanged between one highway authority and another, one statutory undertaker and another and between a highway authority and a statutory undertaker by using electronic communications in accordance with the condition set out in paragraph (4).

(6) Subject to section 98(2) of the 1991 Act (reckoning of periods), where an electronic communication is used for the purpose of serving a notice, then, unless the contrary is proved, the notice will be deemed to be given on the day and at the time recorded by the transmitting apparatus as being the day and time of satisfactory completion of transmission.

(7) Where, after three attempts (duly recorded by the person serving the notice) to effect service by using one particular method for transmitting an electronic communication, service cannot be effected, the notice may be given by serving it upon the person to whom it is to be given by any other such method for which there is a proper address, or by any of the other means referred to in paragraph (1) or, as the case may be, paragraph (3).

(8) Subject to paragraph (9), for the purposes of this regulation, the proper address of any person to whom notice is to be given will be–

(a) where such person–

(i) has provided the person giving the notice with an address for service of notices under these Regulations by using a particular method for transmitting an electronic communication; and

(ii) has not notified the latter that the address is withdrawn for that purpose,

that address in relation to that method of transmission;

(b) where such person has provided the person giving the notice with an address for postal service of such notices, that address in relation to postal service;

(c) where such person has provided the person giving the notice with an address for service of such notices by any other means, that address in relation to such other means; and

(d) otherwise–

(i) in the case of a body corporate, the registered or principal office of that body corporate; and

(ii) in any other case, the last known address of such person.

(9) A person may provide different addresses for different notices or different classes of notice.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

These Regulations provide for the payment of charges to highway authorities where certain street works, executed by undertakers in maintainable highways, are unreasonably prolonged.

Regulation 5(1) and (2) require an undertaker, executing street works in a highway to which these Regulations apply by virtue of regulation 4, to give an "actual start of works notice" within the periods set out. Regulation 5(3) and (4) specify the period within which a "works clear notice" must be given following the completion of an interim reinstatement of the highway and within which a "works closed notice" must be given following permanent reinstatement.

Regulation 6 establishes the "prescribed period" for the purposes of section 74(1)(a) of the 1991 Act and regulation 7 specifies when works end for the purpose of calculating any overrun charges.

Regulation 8 prescribes the charges payable where the duration of street works exceeds the longer of the prescribed period or a reasonable period, subject to certain exemptions. Different daily rates will apply depending upon the category of street works and the type of street in which they are carried out. Where remedial works are carried out, any overrun will be charged as if those works were in the same category as the works being remedied. For this purpose, provision is made for treating older works as being within contemporary categories of street works. Where the duration of works would not have overrun but for the presence of a single item of signing, lighting or guarding, the charge will consist of a single payment of £100 provided the undertaker removes it within the specified time limit following the highway authority´s request to do so. Provision is made for the reduction or waiver of a charge in various cases.

Regulations 9 and 10, which do not apply where a permit to carry out street works is required, enable an undertaker to provide the highway authority, in certain circumstances, with an estimate or revised estimate of the duration of works, which may be taken to be agreed as a reasonable period in the absence of an objection.

Regulation 11 provides for the application of charges and the keeping of accounts. Regulation 12 creates an offence of failing to give any notice required by the Regulations.

Regulations 13 and 14 prescribe the form of any notice and the manner in which it must be served.

An impact assessment of the effect that this instrument will have on the costs of business and the voluntary sector is available from (insert web address).