(1)Subject to the provisions of this section, if it appears necessary or expedient to the Council to do so, the Council may by order—
(a)prevent the use of a market highway by vehicular traffic of any kind;
(b)divert the traffic from a market highway; and
(c)suspend or alter temporarily the application of a traffic regulation order relating to a market highway,
while the market is taking place on that market highway.
(2)An order under subsection (1) shall not—
(a)at any time, prevent pedestrians; or
(b)for more than 8 hours in any period of 24 hours, prevent vehicles of any class,
from having access to any premises situated on or adjacent to a market highway, or to any other premises accessible for pedestrians, or (as the case may be) vehicles of that class, only from the market highway.
(3)Where an order is made under subsection (1) the Council shall secure—
(a)the erection on or near a market highway of traffic signs in such positions as the Council considers necessary for the purpose of securing that adequate information as to the effect of the designation and the order is given to users of the highway; and
(b)where the order contains provisions for suspending or altering temporarily the application of a traffic regulation order, such temporary covering of existing traffic signs as the Council considers necessary for the purpose of avoiding—
(i)confusion to users of a market highway; or
(ii)any incorrect indication about the application of traffic regulations.
(4)Any person who without reasonable excuse contravenes an order made under this section commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.
(5)An order under subsection (1) shall not prevent statutory undertakers from having access to any apparatus of theirs on, in or under any market highway.
(6)Before making an order under subsection (1) in respect of a market highway on which a local bus service operates the Council shall give—
(a)the traffic commissioners; and
(b)the operator of the local bus service,
at least 7 days' notice of the Council’s intention to do so and shall consult with them as to any measures necessary to maintain this service.