The Blackpool Tramway (Blackpool North Extension) Order 2017

Streets

Power to alter layout, etc., of streets

9.—(1) The promoter may alter the layout of, and carry out other ancillary works in, any street specified in column (1) of Schedule 2 (streets subject to alteration of layout) in the manner specified in relation to that street in column (2) of that Schedule.

(2) Without limitation on the scope of the specific powers conferred by article 6 (power to construct and maintain works) or paragraph (1) but subject to paragraph (3), the promoter may for the purpose of constructing, maintaining or using any authorised street tramway alter the layout of the street along which the street tramway is or is to be laid and the layout of any street having a junction with such a street; and, without limitation on the scope of those powers, the promoter may—

(a) increase or reduce the width of the whole or part of any carriageway, kerb, footway, cycle track or verge within the street;

(b) alter the level of the whole or part of any such carriageway, kerb, footway, cycle track or verge;

(c) replace or alter the surface or surface treatment of the street;

(d) reduce the width of the carriageway of the street by forming a reserved area in the street as a stopping place for tramcars or by carrying out other works for that purpose;

(e) carry out works for the provision or alteration of parking places, loading bays, bus stop clearways, cycle tracks and bus laybys;

(f) carry out traffic calming works which are of a description prescribed in the Highways (Traffic Calming) Regulations 1999(1) and which are carried out in compliance with those regulations;

(g) carry out works to the street for the purpose of deterring or preventing vehicles other than tramcars from passing along the tram system; and

(h) make and maintain crossovers, sidings or passing places.

(3) The powers in paragraph (2) must not be exercised without the consent of the street authority, but such consent must not be unreasonably withheld.

Power to keep apparatus in streets

10.—(1) The promoter may, for the purposes of or in connection with the construction, maintenance and use of the authorised tram system, place and maintain in any street any work, equipment or apparatus including, without limitation on the scope of the foregoing, foundations, platforms, road islands, substations, electric lines and any electrical or other apparatus.

(2) The powers of this article must not be exercised within the boundaries of a street outside of the Order limits without the consent of the street authority but such consent must not be unreasonably withheld.

(3) In this article—

(a) “apparatus” has the same meaning as in Part 3 of the 1991 Act; and

(b) the reference to any work, equipment, apparatus or other thing in a street includes a reference to any work, equipment, apparatus or other thing under, over, along or upon the street.

Power to execute street works

11.—(1) The promoter may, for the purpose of exercising the powers conferred by article 10 (power to keep apparatus in streets) or any other provision of this Order, enter upon any street, and may execute any works required for or incidental to the exercise of those powers including, without limitation on the scope of those powers, breaking up or opening the street, or any sewer, drain or tunnel under it, or tunnelling or boring under the street.

(2) The powers of this article must not be exercised within the boundaries of a street outside of the Order limits without the consent of the street authority but such consent must not be unreasonably withheld.

Temporary stopping up of streets

12.—(1) The promoter may, during and for the purposes of the execution of the authorised works temporarily stop up, alter or divert any street and may for any reasonable time—

(a) divert the traffic from the street; and

(b) subject to paragraph (3), prevent all persons from passing along the street.

(2) Without limitation on the scope of paragraph (1), the promoter may use any street stopped up under the powers conferred by this article as a temporary working site.

(3) The promoter must provide at all times reasonable access for pedestrians going to or from premises abutting a street affected by the exercise of the powers conferred by this article if there would otherwise be no such access.

(4) Without limitation on the scope of paragraph (1), the promoter may exercise the powers conferred by this article in relation to the streets specified in column (1) of Schedule 3 (streets to be temporarily stopped up) to the extent specified in column (2) of that Schedule.

(5) The promoter must not exercise the powers conferred by this article—

(a) in relation to any street specified as mentioned in paragraph (4) that is not a highway, without first consulting the street authority; and

(b) in relation to any other street without the consent of the street authority, but such consent must not be unreasonably withheld.

(6) Any person who suffers loss by the suspension of any private right of way under this article is entitled to compensation to be determined, in case of dispute, under Part 1 of the 1961 Act.

(7) The powers conferred by this article may be exercised despite anything contained in or done under Head C (The Promenade) of Part 12 of the County of Lancashire Act 1984(2).

Access to works

13.  The promoter may, for the purposes of the construction, operation or maintenance of the authorised works, form and lay out such means of access or improve such existing means of access, to any street, as may be approved by the highway authority, but such approval must not be unreasonably withheld.

Construction and maintenance of new, altered or diverted streets

14.—(1) Any street to be constructed under this Order must be completed to the reasonable satisfaction of the highway authority and must, unless otherwise agreed between the promoter and the highway authority, be maintained by and at the expense of the promoter for a period of 18 months from its completion and from the expiry of that period by and at the expense of the highway authority.

(2) Where a street is altered or diverted under this Order, the altered or diverted part of the street must, when completed to the reasonable satisfaction of the street authority, unless otherwise agreed, be maintained by and at the expense of the promoter for a period of 18 months from its completion and from the expiry of that period by and at the expense of the street authority.

(3) In any action against the promoter in respect of loss or damage resulting from any failure by it to maintain a street under this article, it is a defence (without prejudice to any other defence or the application of the law relating to contributory negligence) to prove that the promoter had taken such care as in all the circumstances was reasonably required to secure that the part of the street to which the action relates was not dangerous to traffic.

(4) For the purposes of a defence under paragraph (3), the court must in particular have regard to the following matters—

(a) the character of the street including its use for a tramway, and the traffic which was reasonably to be expected to use it;

(b) the standard of maintenance appropriate for a street of that character and used by such traffic;

(c) the state of repair in which a reasonable person would have expected to find the street;

(d) whether the promoter knew, or could reasonably have been expected to know, that the condition of the part of the street to which the action relates was likely to cause danger to users of the street; and

(e) where the promoter could not reasonably have been expected to repair that part of the street before the cause of action arose, what warning notices of its condition had been displayed,

but for the purposes of such a defence it is not relevant to prove that the promoter had arranged for a competent person to carry out or supervise the maintenance of that part of the street to which the action relates unless it is also proved that the promoter had given the competent person proper instructions with regard to the maintenance of the street and that the competent person had carried out those instructions.

Restoration of streets if street tramway discontinued

15.  If the promoter abandons the construction of, or permanently ceases to operate any of the authorised street tramway (“the discontinued tramway”), it must as soon as reasonably practicable and unless otherwise agreed with the street authority—

(a) remove from any street in which the discontinued tramway is laid the rails and any other works, equipment and apparatus which have become redundant; and

(b) restore, to the reasonable satisfaction of the street authority, the portion of the street along which the discontinued tramway was laid, regard being had to the condition of the street before the tramway was laid.

Agreements with street authorities

16.—(1) A street authority and the promoter may enter into agreements with respect to—

(a) the construction of any new street under the powers conferred by this Order;

(b) the strengthening, improvement, repair or reconstruction of any street under the powers conferred by this Order;

(c) the maintenance of any street along or across which a street tramway is laid;

(d) any stopping up, alteration or diversion of a street under the powers conferred by this Order; or

(e) the execution in the street of any of the works referred to in article 11 (power to execute street works).

(2) Such an agreement may, without limitation on the scope of paragraph (1)—

(a) provide for the street authority to carry out any function under this Order which relates to the street in question; and

(b) contain such terms as to payment and otherwise as the parties consider appropriate.

New road crossings

17.—(1) Where by virtue of the creation of a highway or other road after the day on which application was made for this Order under section 6 (applications for orders under sections 1 and 3) of the 1992 Act, any authorised tramroad would cross that highway or road, then the promoter may construct the tramroad so as to carry it on the level across the highway or road.

(2) The promoter may provide, maintain and operate at or near any new road crossing such protective equipment as the Health and Safety Executive may in writing approve.

(3) Any traffic sign placed pursuant to this article on or near a highway or other road to which the public has access is to be treated for the purposes of section 64(4)(3) (general provisions as to traffic signs) of the 1984 Act as having been placed as provided by that Act.

(4) Without limitation on the scope of article 9 (power to alter layout, etc., of streets), the promoter may in the exercise of the powers of this article alter the level of any highway or road referred to in paragraph (1).

(5) The highway authority may enter into agreements with the promoter with respect to the construction and maintenance of any new road crossing; and such an agreement may contain such terms as to payment or otherwise as the parties consider appropriate.

(6) In this article—

“new road crossing” means the place at which an authorised tramroad crosses a highway or other road on the level under the powers conferred by this article; and

“protective equipment” includes lights, traffic signs (within the meaning of section 64(1) of the 1984 Act), manual, mechanical, automatic, electrical or telephonic equipment or other devices.

(1)

S.I. 1999/1026.

(2)

1984 c. xxi.

(3)

As amended by paragraph 47 of Part 2 of Schedule 8 to the New Roads and Streets Works Act 1991 (c. 22).