Roads (Scotland) Act 1984

45Supersession of gates by cattle-grids

(1)Where—

(a)a person has the right to instal a gate in a road, and

(b)the roads authority providing or proposing to provide a cattle-grid in the road under section 41 of this Act determine, after complying with the provisions of Schedule 4 to this Act, that the purpose for which that right is exercisable will be adequately achieved by the provision of the cattle-grid,

the right shall not be exercisable, so long as the cattle-grid is provided, except with the approval of the authority, and they may require that any gate installed in the exercise of the right before the provision of the cattle-grid shall be removed or may themselves remove any such gate.

(2)The authority shall on demand repay any expenses reasonably incurred in removing a gate in compliance with a requirement under subsection (1) above.

(3)Where in pursuance of subsection (1) above a gate has been removed (whether by, or in compliance with a requirement of, the authority) and they subsequently remove the cattle-grid then, if within 12 months after the removal of the cattle-grid any person reinstals a gate in the exercise of a right the exercise of which was suspended while the cattle-grid was provided, the authority shall on demand repay the expenses reasonably incurred in reinstalling the gate.

(4)No objection shall be made or proceedings brought in respect of the purported exercise by the roads authority of their powers under subsection (1) above as respects any gate on the ground that no right to instal the gate existed ; but the purported exercise by the authority of their powers under that subsection shall not affect the question whether any such right existed, or prejudice the powers of the authority or any other person under any enactment or rule of law to protect public rights of way or to prevent or remove obstructions.