Freedom of Information Request: Section 184 Highways Act 1980
I would be grateful if you could provide the following information regarding the Council’s enforcement of Section 184 of the Highways Act 1980 in relation to vehicles crossing footways or verges without an authorised or suitably constructed vehicle crossing.
Please provide figures for each financial year from 2022/23 to 2026/27 to date.
1. How many reports or complaints concerning potential unauthorised vehicle crossings have been received?
2. How many locations have been investigated by the Council?
3. How many warning or advisory letters have been issued?
4. How many formal notices have been served under Section 184?
5. How many cases have resulted in the property owner applying for or installing an authorised vehicle crossover following Council intervention?
6. How many cases have resulted in the Council carrying out works under Section 184 and recovering, or seeking to recover, the costs?
Proactive enforcement
7. Does the Council undertake proactive activity to identify unauthorised vehicle crossings, rather than relying on complaints or reports?
8. If so, what proactive activity is carried out? In particular, does the Council have a scheduled programme of inspections or enforcement activity for Section 184?
9. Are highway inspectors expected to identify and report apparent unauthorised vehicle crossings encountered during routine highway inspections?
10. For each year requested, how many potential Section 184 cases were identified proactively by Council officers rather than as a result of a complaint or report?
11. Has the Council undertaken any targeted street, ward or borough-wide exercises to identify unauthorised vehicle crossings during this period? If so, please provide the dates/areas covered and the number of cases identified.
12. Please provide a copy of any current policy, procedure or officer guidance relating to Section 184 enforcement, including any guidance concerning proactive identification and enforcement.
Where any of the figures requested are not recorded, please state this rather than undertaking manual case-by-case analysis.