PART 6OPERATIONS

Suspension of road user charging

46.—(1) The Secretary of State may suspend the operation of any road user charge imposed under article 45 (road user charging) if they consider that it is necessary to do so—

(a)in the event of an emergency, to enable or facilitate any action taken in response to the emergency; or

(b)to enable or facilitate a temporary event to take place.

(2) A suspension under this article is for such period as the Secretary of State considers necessary—

(a)in the case of an emergency, to enable or facilitate the response to the emergency (but in any event no longer than 30 days); or

(b)in the case of a temporary event, to enable or facilitate the event to take place, together with any associated works undertaken before or after it.

(3) A suspension under this article may be in whole or in part; and if the road user charge is suspended in part that suspension may be in respect of—

(a)any road in respect of which charges are imposed;

(b)any event by reference to the happening of which a charge is imposed; or

(c)any class of motor vehicle in respect of which charges are imposed.

(4) The Secretary of State must publish a notice of any suspension under this article and such notice must—

(a)be published in such manner as the Secretary of State considers appropriate to bring the suspension to the attention of all persons who are likely to be affected by it; and

(b)state the period for which the charge is likely to be suspended.

(5) In the case of a suspension under paragraph (1)(a), the Secretary of State must keep under review the need for the suspension to continue, and may increase or reduce the period for which the charge is to be suspended, but may not increase it so as to suspend the scheme for a period of more than 30 days.

(6) In this article “emergency” means any circumstance whether existing or imminent, which the Secretary of State considers is likely to cause danger to persons or property, or the environment.