Commentary on Sections Section 4 – Orders and notices relation to temporary prohibitions etc. on roads
55.This section amends the provisions of section 14 of the 2006 Act on how the ODA and traffic authorities may establish temporary traffic restrictions or prohibitions to implement the Olympic Transport Plan or to facilitate transport services in connection with the 2012 Games. At present, restrictions or prohibitions may only be applied by order if one of the following justifications also applies: road works; other danger to road users and litter clearance. There may be circumstances where traffic congestion alone threatens implementation of the Plan or transport services and temporary remedial action is necessary; and such circumstances might be urgent in character and justify action without advance publicity – i.e. through the issue of a notice rather than making an order. (The 1984 Act already provides for this in relation to road works, other danger to road users and litter clearance.) Subsection (3) therefore removes the constraint that road works, other danger to road users or litter clearance must be a prerequisite for either the ODA or traffic authorities to make a temporary order under section 14 of the 2006 Act. Subsection (4) provides that a traffic authority may, when necessary or expedient for the purposes of the 2012 Games, effect a control needed urgently by notice.