Any stile, gate or other similar structure across a footpath or bridleway shall be maintained by the owner of the land in a safe condition, and to the standard of repair required to prevent unreasonable interference with the rights of the persons using the footpath or bridleway.

If it appears to the highway authority for the footpath or bridleway that the duty imposed by subsection (1) above is not being complied with, the highway authority, after giving to the owner and occupier not less than fourteen days' notice of their intention, may take all necessary steps for repairing and making good the stile, gate or other works, and may recover from the owner of the land the amount of any expenses reasonably incurred by the highway authority in and in connection with the exercise of their powers under this subsection, or such part of those expenses as the highway authority think fit.

The highway authority shall contribute not less than a quarter of any expenses shown to their satisfaction to have been reasonably incurred in compliance with subsection (1) above, and shall have power to make further contributions of such amount in each case as they shall, having regard to all the circumstances, consider reasonable.

Subsection (1) above shall not apply to any structure if and so long as the highway authority are, under an agreement in writing with any other person, liable to maintain the structure, or if any conditions for the maintenance of the structure are for the time being in force under section 126 of the Highways Act 1959 (authority for erection of stiles etc.).

This section shall be construed as one with the Highways Act 1959.