Highways (Obstruction by Body Corporate) Act 2004

The Highways (Obstruction by Body Corporate) Act 2004 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom. It addresses the issue of obstructions to highways caused by corporate entities. The Act provides local authorities with powers to take action against companies and other bodies corporate that obstruct highways within their jurisdiction. This action can include serving notices requiring the obstruction to be removed within a specified timeframe. Failure to comply with such a notice can result in the local authority carrying out the removal works themselves and recovering the costs from the offending body corporate. The Act aims to ensure the free and safe passage of the public on highways and to prevent corporate entities from impeding this right. The Act typically works in conjunction with broader highways legislation, such as the Highways Act 1980, and relevant case law in defining what constitutes an obstruction.