(1)Any special enactment passed or made before the commencement of this Part which makes or authorises the making of provision regulating the execution of road works in a manner inconsistent with the provisions of this Part shall cease to have effect; and unless a contrary intention appears no enactment passed or made after the commencement of this Part shall be construed as making or authorising the making of any such provision.
This subsection does not apply to any provision as to the obtaining of consent for the execution of the works or for any other purpose.
(2)Any special enactment passed or made before the commencement of this Part which requires the consent of a relevant authority (in its capacity as such) to the execution of road works shall cease to have effect, except as mentioned below; and unless a contrary intention appears no special enactment passed or made after the commencement of this Part shall be construed as requiring such consent.
This subsection does not apply to a consent requirement so far as it relates to—
(a)works above the surface level of the road, or
(b)works outside the limits of supply of an undertaker in relation to whom such limits are imposed.
(3)A provision made by way of condition imposed on the giving of a consent for the execution of road works is of no effect in so far as it would have been so by virtue of section 159 if it had been made by an agreement.
(4)If it appears to the Secretary of State—
(a)that by the operation of subsection (1) a person has been or will be deprived of some protection afforded by a special enactment and that corresponding protection is in all the circumstances required, or
(b)that a requirement of consent imposed by a special enactment should be saved from the operation of subsection (2), either as regards all works to which the requirement extends or as regards any description of such works, or
(c)that conditions of any descriptions should be rendered valid notwithstanding subsection (3), or
(d)that uncertainty or obscurity has resulted or is likely to result from the operation on a special enactment of the general provisions of subsection (1), (2) or (3),
he may by order make such provision as he considers appropriate for affording such protection, saving the requirement, rendering the conditions valid or modifying the special enactment, as the case may be.
(5)An order under this section shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament; and the provisions of Schedule 7 have effect with respect to the procedure for making such an order.
(6)The provisions of this section apply in relation to an instrument having effect under or by virtue of an enactment as in relation to an enactment; and references to a special enactment shall be construed accordingly.