Transport Act 1968

5 (1) In the case of a proposed order under section 104(3), 105(3) or 112 in respect of any waterway the Minister shall—

(a) publish in the London Gazette (or, if the waterway is situated in Scotland, the Edinburgh Gazette), in a national newspaper and in one or more local newspapers circulating in the area in which the waterway is situated ; and

(b) cause to be displayed in one or more places adjacent to the waterway,

a notice containing a statement—

(i) of the general effect of the proposed order; and

(ii) that objections to the order can be made to him within such time (not being less than twenty-eight days) and in such manner as is specified in the notice ;

and shall consider any such objection which is duly made and not withdrawn, and, if he has caused an inquiry to be held in connection with the proposed order, the report of the person holding it.

(2) The holding of an inquiry shall be obligatory—

(a) in connection with—

(i) a proposed order under section 104(3) removing a waterway from Part I of Schedule 12 to this Act, or removing a waterway from Part II of that Schedule without adding it to Part I thereof;

(ii) a proposed order under section 105(3) ;

(iii) a proposed order under section 112,

if an objection is duly made to the proposed order (and is not withdrawn) by a local authority or a river authority ;

(b) in connection with any such proposed order as aforesaid relating to a waterway which appears to the Minister to have been used to a significant extent for the purpose of navigation at the time when notice of the proposed order was published, if an objection is duly made to the proposed order (and is not withdrawn) by any organisation appearing to him to represent a substantial number of persons using it as aforesaid at that time.

(3) In this paragraph " waterway " means, in relation to an order under section 104(3) or 105(3), the waterway or part thereof in respect of which the order is to be made and, in relation to an order under section 112, the canal or part thereof (within the meaning of that section) in respect of which the order is to be made.