The court considered the extent of defect in a highway needed to found a claim that it was dangerous. It emphasised that the duty must not be made too high, balancing the public need against the private interest.Steyn LJ said: ‘For my part I find it a sterile exercise to make a comparison between the … Continue reading Mills v Barnsley Borough Council: CA 1992
The damages awarded for a compulsory purchase were reduced. The vendor had foreseen the reduction in the value of the land. A significant depreciation of value comes within the expression ‘seriously affected’ in section 246(2A). Citations: Times 13-Nov-1995, [1995] 2 EGLR 213 Statutes: Highways Act 1980 246(2A) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Land, Damages Updated: 28 … Continue reading Regina v Secretary of State for Transport Ex Parte Owen: QBD 13 Nov 1995
Statutory Duty Not Extended by Common Law The claimant sought damages after a road accident. The driver came over the crest of a hill and hit a bus. The road was not marked with any warning as to the need to slow down. Held: The claim failed. The duty could not be extended to include … Continue reading Gorringe v Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council: HL 1 Apr 2004
Whether the decision of the Supreme Court in DPP v. Ziegler [2021] UKSC 23; [2021] 3 WLR 179 requires a criminal court to determine in all cases which arise out of ‘non-violent’ protest whether the conviction is proportionate for the purposes of articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights (‘the Convention’) … Continue reading Director of Public Prosecutions v Cuciurean: Admn 30 Mar 2022
Hobhouse LJ, adopted at least part of Denning LJ’s approach in Fairey, holding that the absence of intention to dedicate had to be ‘objectively established by overt acts of the landowner’, and that ‘This is not a subjective test. The absence of intention must be objectively established by overt acts of the landowner.’ It was … Continue reading Secretary of State for the Environment v Beresford Trustees: CA 31 Jul 1996
Appeal against order stopping up public footpaths. Judges: Laws J Citations: [1997] EWHC Admin 298 Statutes: Highways Act 1980 116 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Land Updated: 12 April 2022; Ref: scu.137243
When considering the need to provide a footpath by side of a new road, the Highway Authority may take into account its own financial constraints. Citations: Times 09-Feb-1998 Statutes: Highways Act 1980 66 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Land, Local Government Updated: 09 April 2022; Ref: scu.87440
The local authority had granted planning permission for a development, but failed to secure either an advance payment for the making up of the estate roads, to secure a bond and agreement, or to make an order exempting the estate form this requirement. The developer failed without the road being made up, and the residents … Continue reading Regina (On the Application of Hughes and Others) v Commissioner for Local Administration: QBD 17 May 2001
When a householder applied for leave to construct a vehicular crossing over a footway to the carriageway, the highway authority was entitled to consider the effect such a way would have on the controlled parking zone, and could go beyond the elements listed in the section. Here the grant of the right would have reduced … Continue reading Regina v Kensington and Chelsea London Borough Council, Ex Parte Eminian: QBD 17 Aug 2000
Grant of s38 rights in a Highways agreement didn’t operate as grant of future public rights of way, nor create an overriding interest. Citations: Ind Summary 12-Jun-1995, Times 21-Apr-1995 Statutes: Highways Act 1980 38(3)(b), Land Registration Act 1925 70(1)(a) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Appeal from – Overseas Investment Services Ltd v Simcobuild Construction Ltd … Continue reading Overseas Investment Services Ltd v Simcobuild Construction Ltd and Another: CA 21 Apr 1995
A Local Authority was liable as the Highway Authority for its breach of statutory duty having left mud on a road, left there by wagons with complaints that there was no sign. Citations: Times 16-Dec-1994, Independent 07-Dec-1994 Statutes: Highways Act 1980 58(1) Road Traffic, Negligence Updated: 09 April 2022; Ref: scu.83759
Dogs which were kept by pathway could not amount to an obstruction of footpath even though they were fearsome. Citations: Times 26-Jul-1996 Statutes: Highways Act 1980 137(1) Road Traffic Updated: 09 April 2022; Ref: scu.82742
In criminal proceedings arising out of protest activity: (1) is deliberate physically obstructive conduct by protesters capable of constituting a lawful excuse for the purposes of s.137 of the Highways Act 1980?; and (2) what is the test to be applied by an appellate court to an assessment of the decision of the trial court … Continue reading Director of Public Prosecutions v Ziegler and Others: SC 25 Jun 2021
The clamant sought damages ahving been injured falling from a footbridge. Held: ‘The injuries were not caused by any failure to maintain the highway and the claimant’s claim under the 1980 Act fails. The claimant’s injuries were not the result of any failure by the defendant to take reasonable care to ensure that he was … Continue reading Singh v The City of Cardiff Council: QBD 23 Jun 2017
Statutory Duty Does Not Create Common Law Duty The mere existence of statutory power to remedy a defect cannot of itself create a duty of care to do so. A highway authority need not have a duty of care to highway users because of its duty to maintain the highway. The two stage test ‘involves … Continue reading Stovin v Wise, Norfolk County Council (Third Party): HL 24 Jul 1996
The appellant complained that the local council had failed to maintain a highway. The road was a single track rural highway. The Crown Court allowed for the present-day character of the highway, and the appellant objected. The complainant sought to hold a highway authority responsible for making verges reasonably available for the use of walkers, … Continue reading Kind v Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Council: Admn 31 Jul 2001
The Council appealed against a finding of liability for injuries suffered by the claimant when slipping on moss on a footpath. Haddon-Cave J [2015] EWHC 3330 (QB) Bailii Highways Act 1980 41 England and Wales Personal Injury Updated: 09 January 2022; Ref: scu.558748
ICO Local government (County council) The complainant has requested information relating to statutory notices issued under the Highways Act 1980. The Commissioner’s decision is that Norfolk County Council has correctly applied the exception for manifestly unreasonable requests at Regulation 12(4)(b) of the EIR. EIR 12(4)(b): Not upheld [2015] UKICO FER0561174 Bailii England and Wales Information … Continue reading Norfolk County Council (Local Government (County Council)): ICO 9 Feb 2015
The complainant has requested information relating to statutory notices issued under the Highways Act 1980. The Commissioner’s decision is that Kent County Council has correctly applied the exception for manifestly unreasonable requests at Regulation 12(4)(b) of the EIR. The Commissioner has also found that Kent County Council has breached Regulation 9(1) by not providing appropriate … Continue reading Kent County Council (Local Government (County Council)): ICO 9 Feb 2015
Appeal by case stated against conviction for obstructing a police officer in the execution of his duty. The appellant had been protesting. She, correctly, thought the land to be a rivate highway. The police officer had thought it a public hghway and had acted accordingly under the 1980 Act. Held: The appeal failed. The inspector’s … Continue reading McCann v Crown Prosecution Service: Admn 21 Aug 2015
The claimant was injured riding his bicycle, and alleged failure by the respondent highway authority. The court now considered an application for leave to appeal against an order allowing the production of evidence of an expert in cycling skills and safety. The claimant’s report had been served but remained sealed pending the outcome of the … Continue reading Allen v Cornwall Council: QBD 20 May 2015
Objection had been made that a plan, used to register a right of way before it would disappear if un-registered, was to the wrong scale and that therefore the application was ineffetive. Held: The Council’s appeal failed. The plan was too large a scale, and that could not invalidate the application. The only question is … Continue reading Trail Riders Fellowship and Another, Regina (on The Application of) v Dorset County Council: SC 18 Mar 2015
The appellant had lived in a caravan on the verge of a byway and had been here for more than twelve years. He appealed against rejection of his request for possessory title. He said that there was no support in law for the maxim that adverse possession was not available against land forming part of … Continue reading Smith, Regina (on The Application of) v Land Registry (Peterborough Office) and Another: CA 10 Mar 2010
The landowner practised from property in Harrow. The former garden had now for many years been used as a forecourt open to the highway, for parking cars of staff and clients. Cars crossed the footpath to gain access, and backing out into the road when leaving. That use was recognised as lawful under planning law. … Continue reading Cusack v London Borough of Harrow: SC 19 Jun 2013
A Local Authority is liable for any damage to adjacent property caused by the roots of a tree growing on the verge of a public highway. Held: Pre-adoption trees vest in the highway authority for all purposes. Stuart-Smith, Morritt L, Sir John Balcombe Times 26-Jun-1997, [1997] EWCA Civ 1901, (1997) 96 LGR 27 Bailii Highways … Continue reading Hurst and Another v Hampshire County Council: CA 19 Jun 1997
The claimant was driving along a road. He skidded on ice, crashed and was severely injured. He claimed damages saying that the Highway authority had failed to ‘maintain’ the road. Held: The statutory duty on a highway authority to keep a road in repair did not include an absolute duty to remove all ice. The … Continue reading Goodes v East Sussex County Council: HL 16 Jun 2000
The court considered the contnuation of public rights of way against the new system of the ending of certain unrecorded rights. Held: he appeal failed. ‘As a matter of plain language, section 67(2)(b) does not, in our judgment, require the list to be fully compliant with section 36(6). The requirement to which it refers is … Continue reading Fortune and Others v Wiltshire Council and Another: CA 20 Mar 2012
The appellant appealed conviction of wilfully obstructing, without lawful authority or excuse, the free passage along The Bridge, a bridleway, on the HS2 site off Denham Court Drive in Buckinghamshire, co Lord Burnett of Maldon CJ [2021] EWHC 3056 (Admin) Bailii Highways Act 1980 137 England and Wales Jury Updated: 01 December 2021; Ref: scu.669872
Circumstances in which a duty of care arises falling upon the police in the context of their actions at the scene of a road accident caused by locally icy and dangerous road conditions as a result of a water leak and flooding. He re the Claimant says that the Police attending the scene assumed or … Continue reading Tindall and Another v Thames Valley Police and Another: QBD 7 Apr 2020
Appeal by Cornwall County Council against a decision that it is liable for damage caused by floodwater escaping from one of the roads in the county. Lord Dyson MR, Jackson LJ, Sir Stanley Burnton [2013] EWCA Civ 950, [2013] WLR(D) 329 Bailii, WLRD Highways Act 1980 41(1) 58(1) England and Wales Land, Torts – Other … Continue reading Vernon Knight Associates v Cornwall Council: CA 30 Jul 2013
Obstruction of Highway – Highway not clear The apellant protesters had been convicted of obstructing the highway by affixing themselves to a fence by a roadway by the Atomic Weapons Establishment. They argued that the road was not a highway and that any obstruction was de minimis. In particular, a green line presumed to indicate … Continue reading Carter-Brown and Others v Crown Prosecution Service: QBD 31 Jul 2017
The claimant challenged the policy of the respondent council to replace many established trees along streets in the City. Held: Permission to apply for review was refused: ‘Some concern has been expressed by objectors to the scheme that, in some cases, a street has lost all of its trees. Some realism is required. Trees are … Continue reading Dillner, Regina (on The Application of) v Sheffield City Council: Admn 27 Apr 2016
The appellant challenged by case stated a refusal of the Crown Court to order removal of a gate which he said obstructed a public footpath. The land-owner had persuaded the magistrates that the gate was not on the line of the footpath. The claimant said the finding of fact was perverse. Held: There was clear … Continue reading Ernstbrunner v Manchester City Council and Another: Admn 16 Dec 2009
Psychological Obstruction to Public Footpath A public footpath crossed the appellants’ land. They constructed a gateway across it which they now accepted had been a significant obstruction of the right of way. The local authority served a notice requiring its removal, including the stone pillars erected on the path. After a failure to comply the … Continue reading Herrick and Another v Kidner and Another: Admn 17 Feb 2010
Presumption of dedication dates back. The claimant tripped over a tree root raising a path in the park. The court was now asked whether the pathway through a public park, but which was not a public right of way, was maintainable at public expense as a highway governed by the 1980 Act. Held: As to … Continue reading Barlow v Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council: CA 1 Jun 2020
The claimant appealed against rejection of her claim for damages after slipping on a footpath maintainable by the defendant after an accumulation of mud and debris. The claim appeared to be the first under section 130, and the highway authority denied that any claim for damages might arise under it. Held: The sections from which … Continue reading Ali v The City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council: CA 17 Nov 2010
The house was asked about whether continuous use of an apparent right of way by the public would create a public right of way after 20 years, and also whether a non overt act by a landowner was sufficient to prove his intention not to dedicate the land as a public right of way. Held: … Continue reading Godmanchester Town Council, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: HL 20 Jun 2007
The claimant complained that the respondent had failed properly to secure removal of an admitted obstruction to a public footpath. The landowner had applied for a diversion of the footpath, which the respondent recommended for adoption, but the complainant had objected that the respondent had failed to follow its own policies, in that it should … Continue reading Regina (Ashbrook) v East Sussex County Council: CA 20 Nov 2002
Obstruction of public footpath – application for diversion . .
The claimant sought damages, alleging that an accident occurred as a result of the defendant highway authority’s negligence in failing to mark the road properly. A ‘Slow’ sign had become faded and had not been maintained.
Held: The judge had . .
A road user was injured on a corner which was known to the highway authority to be dangerous. The authority had sought to make arrangements with the owner of land adjoining the highway to remove a bank which obstructed the view.
Held: The . .
The claimant sought a declaration that the caution registered by the defendant should be vacated. The defendant asserted acquisition by prescription either of an easement or of the land itself. They had parked vehicles on the land.
Held: . .
The claimant had tripped on a footpath on a housing estate. There was a depressed manhole cover on the footpath over which he tripped. The footpath had been constructed by Pembrokeshire County Council, who were both the local housing authority and . .
The claimant sought damages after his vehicle crashed when driving over a pothole in the road maintained by the defendant. . .
The natural overgrowing of a bridleway could not be said to make it in need of repair, but might still allow the requirement of its removal. . .
The Court considered whether the second defendant highway authority were liable after two road accidents and warnings of dangerous conditions and a failure to grit the road. . .
Mr Gulliksen was walking on a footpath on a housing estate to the house of a friend. He had an accident at a depressed manhole cover on the footpath over which he tripped. The footpath had been constructed by Pembrokeshire County Council, who were both the local housing authority and the highway authority at the … Continue reading Gulliksen v Pembrokeshire County Council: QBD 2002
Atkin LJ said: ‘It has been suggested that you cannot have a highway except insofar as it connects two other highways. That seems to me that too wide a proposition. I think you can have a highway leading to a place of popular resort even though when you have got to the place of popular … Continue reading Moser v Ambleside Urban District Council: CA 1925
(From Supreme Court of New South Wales) The appellant owned land in New South Wales, acquired from the Crown in 1879, over which there was a track. The respondent was sued for trespass when he went upon the track and removed fences running across it installed by the appellant. The respondent argued that he had … Continue reading Turner v Walsh: PC 1881
The claimant had been seriously injured in an accident during a swimming lesson. She sought to claim against the local authority, and now appealed against a finding that it was not responsible, having contracted out the provision of swimming lessons. She said that the duty of care was non-delegable. Held: Her appeal succeeded. For a … Continue reading Woodland v Essex County Council: SC 23 Oct 2013
The plaintiffs were injured in a road accident caused by flooding. They sued the executors of the deceased driver whose car spun out of control into the path of their own car, and also the highway authority, who had installed a proper system of drainage (except in one respect) but whose employees had failed to … Continue reading Burnside and Another v Emerson and Others: CA 1968
The defendant appealed against his conviction of manslaughter of his baby son. He said that a family court had previously investigated the same allegations and had explicitly found itself unable to say which of himself and the mother were responsible for the death. Held: A prosecutor in a criminal a case has a broader duty … Continue reading Levey, Regina v: CACD 27 Jul 2006
Circumstances in which held that for the purpose of establishing by prescriptive use a public right-of-way from one highway to another, which use did not extend to the full prescriptive period, it was right to take into consideration the earlier use of a way between the two highways, although such way began and finished at … Continue reading Kinloch and Another (Kinloch’s Trustees) v Young: HL 17 Dec 1910
Sentencing of Political Protesters The defendants appealed against sentences for causing a public nuisance. They had been protesting against fracking by climbing aboard a lorry and blocking a main road for several days. Held: The appeals from immediate custodial sentences were successful, and suspended sentences imposed. The defendants had expressed remorse for their actions and … Continue reading Roberts and Others v Regina: CACD 6 Dec 2018
Impacted snow and ice had built up on a steep, narrow, made-up footpath from Monday to Thursday during a short wintry spell. The plaintiff slipped and broke her ankle. The highway authority operated a system of priorities. Their resources were fully taken up with sanding and gritting roads, but on the Wednesday evening one of … Continue reading Haydon v Kent County Council: CA 1978
The defendant sought to have dismissed as an abuse of proces charges against her that as an officer of Customs and Excise prosecuting the now private prosecutor, she had committed various offences. Held: The magistrate was vested with jurisdiction to consider whether summonses issued by a convicted defendant amounted to an abuse of process, and … Continue reading Regina v Belmarsh Magistrates’ Court ex parte Fiona Watts: Admn 8 Feb 1999
The court considered the creation by section 62 of the 1925 Act automatically of easements when land was divided. The claimants owned land bounded on either side by properties beloinging to the respondents. The properties had once been in common ownership. They asserted the existence of a bridleway easement along a track to the public … Continue reading Campbell and Another v Banks and Others: CA 1 Feb 2011
