Overview

This bill mandates that local highway authorities in England review wildlife near protected areas, assess road risks to wildlife and vice-versa, and implement safety measures. The Secretary of State will provide guidance on these measures.

Description

This bill places a legal duty on local highway authorities in England to protect wildlife on roads near designated protected areas. This includes:

• Review and Assessment: Authorities must review wildlife in specified protected areas and assess the risks posed by traffic to wildlife and vice-versa.
• Safety Measures: They must implement safety measures to protect both wildlife and road users. Examples include wildlife crossings, signage, barriers, and speed restrictions.
• Guidance from the Secretary of State: The Secretary of State is responsible for providing guidance to local authorities on assessing the need for and implementing these safety measures, consulting relevant parties before issuing or revising guidance.
• Definitions: "Local highway authority" is defined as per the Highways Act 1980, and "specified protected area" includes Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Special Areas of Conservation, and Special Protection Areas.
• Implementation Timeline: The bill is effective immediately for sections 1 & 4, with section 2 coming into effect after six months and remaining sections after twelve months. The bill applies to England and Wales.
• Proximity Definition: A highway is considered adjacent if within 200 meters of a protected area, or running between protected areas less than 500 meters apart.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't specify the exact amount of government spending. Costs will likely be incurred by local highway authorities for implementing the required reviews, assessments, and safety measures. The Secretary of State's department will incur costs related to issuing and updating guidance. No figures are provided in the bill text.

Groups Affected

• Local Highway Authorities: Will bear the responsibility and cost of implementing the new duties.
• Wildlife: The bill aims to improve their safety near roads.
• Road Users: May experience minor inconveniences (e.g., speed restrictions) to improve wildlife safety.
• Secretary of State's Department: Responsible for producing and updating guidance.

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