7.—(1) This article applies to any appeal under this Order.
(2) An appeal is to the Scottish Land Court(1).
(3) An appeal shall be in such form as may be prescribed from time to time by the Scottish Land Court.
(4) In any appeal where the commission of an offence is an issue requiring determination, SEPA must prove the offence according to the balance of probabilities.
(5) The Scottish Land Court may determine a case, or any part of a case, on the basis of written submissions and without a hearing where—
(a)both parties agree; or
(b)subject to paragraph (6), the Court considers that it can justly determine the matter without a hearing.
(6) Where paragraph (5)(b) applies, the Court must not determine the appeal without a hearing without first giving the parties notice of its intention to do so, and an opportunity to make written representations as to whether there should be a hearing.
The Scottish Land Court was established by section 3 of the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act 1911, and continued in being under section 1 of the Scottish Land Court Act 1993 (c.45).