Purpose

In
May 2023, the Secretary of State for Transport made the Transport
and Works Act Order to enable the completion of the Rother Valley
Railway (Bodiam to Robertsbridge Junction). Some of the works to
reinstate the railway will need to take place on adopted public
highway that the County Council manages and maintains.  Ordinarily, these works would be permitted under
Section 278 of the Highway Act, which officers have delegated
authority to negotiate and agree. 
However, due to the unusual nature of this project, the works will
need to be agreed through a Transport and Works Act Agreement,
which no delegated authority exists for officers to agree to. The
report to Lead Member will be to seek authority for a Transport and
Works Act Agreement to be agreed and signed with Rother Valley
Railway.