15.—(1) The new highways specified in column (4) of Part 1 in Schedule 2 (closure of level crossings) are to be completed to the reasonable satisfaction of the highway authority and are to be maintained by and at the expense of Network Rail for a period of 12 months from their completion and after the expiry of that period by and at the expense of the highway authority.
(2) On completion of each new highway in accordance with paragraph (1), and subject to article 29 (traffic regulation), it is to have the designation specified in column (4) of Part 1 in Schedule 2.
(3) Section 28(1) (compensation for loss caused by public path creation order) of the 1980 Act is to apply to each new highway specified in column (4) of Part 1 in Schedule 2 as if that new highway had been created by a public path creation order.
(4) Section 28 of the 1980 Act has effect with the modifications mentioned in paragraphs (5) to (7).
(5) In sub-section (1), substitute “Network Rail” for “the authority by whom the Order was made”.
(6) For sub-section (2), substitute—
“(2) A claim for compensation under this section is to be made to Network Rail in writing before the end of the period of 6 months beginning with the day on which the public right of way first becomes exercisable and is to be served on Network Rail by delivering it at, or by sending it by pre-paid post to the registered office of Network Rail Infrastructure Limited.”
(7) Sub-section (3) is omitted.
(8) For the purposes of paragraphs (3) to (7), section 307 (disputes as to compensation which are to be determined by Upper Tribunal and related provisions) of the 1980 Act, in its application to section 28 by virtue of section 307(1), is to have effect as if in sub-section (2) for “the authority from whom the compensation in question is claimed”, the words “Network Rail” are substituted.
(9) In any action against Network Rail in respect of loss or damage resulting from any failure by it to maintain the new highway, it is a defence (without affecting any other defence or the application of the law relating to contributory negligence) to prove that Network Rail had taken such care as in all the circumstances was reasonably required to secure that the part of the new highway to which the action relates was not dangerous to traffic.
(10) For the purposes of a defence under paragraph (9), the court must in particular have regard to the following matters—
(a)the character of the new highway and the traffic which was reasonably to be expected to use it;
(b)the standard of maintenance appropriate for a highway of that character and used by such traffic;
(c)the state of repair in which a reasonable person would have expected to find the new highway;
(d)whether Network Rail knew, or could reasonably have been expected to know, that the condition of the part of the new highway to which the action relates was likely to cause danger to users of the new highway;
(e)where Network Rail could not reasonably have been expected to repair that part of the new highway 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 Network Rail had arranged for a competent person to carry out or supervise the maintenance of the part of the new highway to which the action relates unless it is also proved that Network Rail had given the competent person proper instructions with regard to the maintenance of the new highway and that the competent person had carried out those instructions.
(11) The new highways are to be treated as completed to the satisfaction of the highway authority for the purpose of paragraph (1) if it fails to reply to a request for certification that it is satisfied with the work within 28 days of receiving the request.
(12) Where any highway created under this article passes over a scheduled work, the highway extends to include the scheduled work.
Commencement Information
I1Art. 15 in force at 30.6.2022, see art. 1
Section 28 was amended by S.I. 2006/1177.