Clause 54 - Re-surfacing regulations and guidance

Traffic Management Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 5:15 pm on 3 February 2004.

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Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.

Photo of John Mann John Mann Labour, Bassetlaw

I have one question. Proposed new section 73D(2)(d) provides for the paying of sums of money in lieu of executing works. I wonder whether that will operate like the adoption of roads on new estates, which are usually rather unsatisfactory works.

My area has seen a series of disputes between builders and the highway authority over the works to be completed before the roads are adopted. Both parties seem to be satisfied that there is a sum of money on deposit, but they have not bothered to do anything about getting them adopted—or, in the most extreme case of Scrooby close, not completing them for 15 years. Several dozen other, similar, examples are current.

Photo of Tony McNulty Tony McNulty Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Transport

In the first instance, the clause does not relate to the initial surfacing of roads on new estates, but only to those roads when they are dug up and subsequently resurfaced. That is when the cost of resurfacing and the other elements of clauses 53 to 55 would prevail. It would not apply to the initial making up and surfacing of new roads.

Question put and agreed to.

Clause 54 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 55 and 56 ordered to stand part of the Bill.