How the responsibility for roads changed post 1870

From 1878 a new class of highway was introduced – the main road. All former turnpike roads which had become public highways since 1870 were designated as main roads and other highways could be designated as main roads by the justices of the county in quarter sessions. Half the cost of maintaining main roads was to be borne by the county at large, and the remainder by the Highway District.

In 1889 the Local Government Act passed responsibility for main roads to the new county councils, who were to bear all of the cost of their upkeep. The highway boards continued to have responsibility for highways other than main roads.

The Local Government Act 1894 passed all the powers, duties and liabilities of existing highway boards, highway authorities or surveyors to the newly created rural district councils. Rural district councils continued to exercise these powers until 1930, when the Local Government Act 1929 transferred responsibility for rural highways to county councils.

Last edited