What are Traffic Orders and Stopping Up Orders?

Our explanation of stopping up orders, traffic orders and public notice of road humps.

Stopping up order

What is a stopping up order?

A stopping up order may be made to close a road for redevelopment purposes, providing certain planning permissions have been granted.

Once a stopping up order is made, the carriageway and/or footway concerned ceases to be public highway and may be built upon.

What are the procedures involved in making a stopping up order?

There are several, but briefly the Council is required by law to publish notices in the local newspaper (in Lambeth these are placed in the South London Press) and in the London Gazette and to display notices in the road concerned (notices are fixed to lamp columns or other street furniture).

The Council is also obliged to make a copy of the order and other relevant documents available for public inspection.

The Council is also required to consult the Police, Fire Brigade, Ambulance Service and organisations representing road users (for example the AA, the RAC, the London Cycling Campaign, the Pedestrians Association, the Freight Transport Association, the Road Haulage Association and bus companies).

The Council is also legally obliged to get the agreement of any undertaker who has apparatus under the road to be stopped up and the owner of any property which adjoins the road to be stopped up.

If there are any unwithdrawn objections to the stopping up order, then the Council may hold a local inquiry, unless the Mayor of London directs that this is not necessary.

Where can I see a copy of a stopping up order and any other related documents?

In the offices of the Council's Transport and Highways Group on the 3rd floor of Blue Star House, 234-244 Stockwell Road, London SW9 9SP, between the hours of 9.30 am and 4.30 pm on Mondays to Fridays (Bank Holidays excluded).

Can I object to a stopping up order?

When the Council gives notice of its intention to make the order in the South London Press, the London Gazette and on the roads concerned, you may make an objection or other representation within 28 days of the day that the notice is published.

Any formal objection to a stopping up order is considered by the Council through delegated authority before a decision is made on whether or not to proceed with the order.

Any unwithdrawn objections may result in a local inquiry being held before the order can be made.

If the council decides to make the order, despite objections, can I continue to object?

No, this is not possible. However, once the order is made, if a person believes that the Council has acted outside of its powers or that the Council has not carried out the correct legal procedures in making the order, then that person may apply to the High Court within six weeks of the date that the Order was published and ask the Court to quash the order.

Traffic orders

What is a traffic order?

A traffic order is a legal document which imposes traffic and parking restrictions such as road closures, one-way streets, banned turns, bus lanes, mandatory cycle lanes, waiting and loading restrictions (yellow lines), controlled parking zones and on-street parking places.

There are three types of traffic order:

• temporary orders
• experimental orders
• permanent orders.

What is the difference between the 3 types of traffic order?

Temporary orders are imposed to close roads or to restrict traffic and parking so that works can be carried out either on a road or near a road (such as on a building site or redevelopment site).

They may also be imposed where there is the likelihood of danger to the public (for instance if debris is falling from a building).

In general, temporary orders can continue in force for up to 18 months or until the works have been completed if that is sooner.

Temporary orders may also be used to restrict traffic and parking for a special event, such as a street party or a sporting event that happens on the road. These may continue for up to three days.

Experimental orders can restrict traffic and parking for up to 18 months and while they are in force their effect is monitored and assessed (and changes made if necessary), before the Council decides whether or not to continue the experimental order on a permanent basis.

Permanent orders are made to restrict traffic and parking for an indefinite period.

They may be revoked, if necessary, but it is unusual for this to happen unless there is a major change in traffic conditions.

What are the procedures involved in making a traffic order?

There are several, but put briefly the Council is required by law to publish notices in the local newspaper (in Lambeth these are placed in the South London Press) and in the London Gazette.

Also, if the Council thinks fit they may attach notices to lamp columns or other street furniture in the roads concerned and they may consult with residents and businesses in the roads affected.

In the case of experimental and permanent traffic orders, the Council is also obliged to make a copy of the order and other relevant documents available for public inspection.

Before the Council makes an experimental or permanent traffic order it is also legally obliged to consult the Police, Fire Brigade, Ambulance Service and organisations representing road users (for example the AA, the RAC, the London Cycling Campaign, the Pedestrian Association, the Freight Transport Association, the Road Haulage Association and bus companies).

In certain special circumstances, the Council may hold a public inquiry.

Where can I see a copy of a traffic order and any other related documents?

In the offices of the Council's Transport and Highways Group on the 3rd floor of Blue Star House, 234-244 Stockwell Road, London SW9 9SP, between the hours of 9.30 am and 4.30 pm on Mondays to Fridays (Bank Holidays excluded).

Can I object to a traffic order?

It is not possible to lodge a formal objection to a temporary traffic order, although if you have any comment or complaint about a temporary traffic order you should still contact the Council so that it can be investigated.

It is not possible to lodge a formal objection to an experimental traffic order until it is in force. Once it is in force, objections may be made to the order being made permanent and these must be made within six months of the day that the experimental order comes into force.

If the experimental order is changed, then objections may be made within six months of the day that the experimental order is changed.

In the case of a permanent order, the Council has to give public notice of its intention before the order comes into force and invite objections or other representations. These must be made within 21 days of the day that the public notice appears in the South London Press and London Gazette and in the roads concerned.

Any formal objection to a permanent order or to an experimental order being continued on a permanent basis is considered by the Council through delegated authority before a decision is made on whether or not to make the relevant order. The objector is then notified in writing of the Council's decision.

If the council decides to make the traffic order, despite objections, can I continue to object?

No, this is not possible. However, once the order is made, if a person believes that the Council has acted outside of its powers or that the Council has not carried out the correct legal procedures in making the order, then that person may apply to the High Court within 6 weeks of the date that the Order was made and ask the Court to quash the order.

Road humps

Notice has to be raised for the implementation of a pedestrian crossing and speed humps, with a notice put up on lamp columns and also in the London Gazette.

Orders are not required for these type of works although a notice is required to go into the South London Press newspaper.

What are the procedures involved in giving public notice of road humps?

Before the Council can provide road humps it is required by law to publish a notice of its intention to do so in the local newspaper (in Lambeth these are placed in the South London Press) and by displaying notices in the roads concerned (notices are usually attached to lamp columns or other street furniture).

The Council is also legally obliged to consult the Police, Fire Brigade, Ambulance Service and organisations representing road users (for example the AA, the RAC, the London Cycling Campaign, the Pedestrian Association, the Freight Transport Association, the Road Haulage Association and bus companies) and organisations representing people who are likely to be affected by the road humps.

If the Council think it appropriate, they may hold a local inquiry.

Can I object to the road humps?

Yes, you may object within a period of 21 days which starts on the day that the notice of intention is published in the South London Press and displayed in the roads concerned.

During the 21 day objection period, a drawing showing the location of the proposed road humps may be seen by members of the public in the offices of the Council's Transport and Highways Group on the 3rd floor of Blue Star House, 234-244 Stockwell Road, London SW9 9SP, between the hours of 9.30 am and 4.30 pm on Mondays to Fridays (Bank Holidays excluded).

Any objection to road humps is considered by the Council through delegated authority before a decision is made on whether or not to go ahead and provide the humps. In due course the objector is notified in writing of the Council's decision.

If the Council thinks it appropriate, then a local inquiry may be held.

If it is decided to provide the road humps, can I still object?

No, it is not possible to make an objection once the objection period has expired and it is not possible to pursue the matter further once your objection has been considered and a decision has been made.

Who to contact

Transport and Highways
Phone: 020 7926 9000
Fax: 020 7926 2357
Email: TandHCallCentre@lambeth.gov.uk