Extinguishment of public rights of way
6(1)Where any land has been vested in or acquired by a regional development agency under this Act, and is for the time being held by the agency for the purposes of its objects, the Secretary of State may by order extinguish any public right of way over the land, if he is satisfied—
(a)that an alternative right of way has been or will be provided, or
(b)that the provision of an alternative right of way is not required.
(2)Where the Secretary of State proposes to make an order under this paragraph, he shall—
(a)publish in such manner as appears to him to be requisite a notice—
(i)stating the effect of the order, and
(ii)specifying the time (not being less than 28 days from the publication of the notice) within which, and the manner in which, objections to the proposal may be made, and
(b)serve a like notice—
(i)on the local planning authority in whose area the land is situated, and
(ii)on the relevant highway authority.
(3)In sub-paragraph (2) “the relevant highway authority” means any authority which is a highway authority in relation to the right of way proposed to be extinguished by the order under this paragraph.
(4)Where an objection to a proposal to make an order under this paragraph is duly made and is not withdrawn, the provisions of paragraph 7 shall have effect in relation to the proposal.
(5)For the purposes of this paragraph an objection to such a proposal shall not be treated as duly made unless—
(a)it is made within the time and in the manner specified in the notice required by this paragraph, and
(b)a statement in writing of the grounds of the objection is comprised in or submitted with the objection.
7(1)In this paragraph any reference to making a final decision, in relation to an order, is a reference to deciding whether to make the order or what modification, if any, ought to be made.
(2)Unless the Secretary of State decides apart from the objection not to make the order, or decides to make a modification which is agreed to by the objector as meeting the objection, the Secretary of State—
(a)shall, before making a final decision, consider the grounds of the objection as set out in the statement comprised in or submitted with the objection, and
(b)may, if he thinks fit, require the objector to submit within a specified period a further statement in writing as to any of the matters to which the objection relates.
(3)In so far as the Secretary of State, after considering the grounds of the objection as set out in the original statement and in any such further statement, is satisfied that the objection relates to a matter which can be dealt with in the assessment of compensation, he may treat the objection as irrelevant for the purpose of making a final decision.
(4)In any case where—
(a)after considering the grounds of the objection as set out in the original statement and in any such further statement, the Secretary of State is satisfied that, for the purpose of making a final decision, he is sufficiently informed as to the matters to which the objection relates, or
(b)a further statement has been required but is not submitted within the specified period,
the Secretary of State may make a final decision without further investigation as to the matters to which the objection relates.
(5)Subject to sub-paragraphs (3) and (4), the Secretary of State, before making a final decision, shall afford to the objector an opportunity of appearing before, and being heard by, a person appointed for the purpose by the Secretary of State; and if the objector avails himself of that opportunity, the Secretary of State shall afford an opportunity of appearing and being heard on the same occasion—
(a)to the person on whose representation the order is proposed to be made, and
(b)to any other persons to whom it appears to the Secretary of State to be expedient to afford such an opportunity.
(6)Notwithstanding anything in the preceding provisions of this paragraph, if it appears to the Secretary of State that the matters to which the objection relates are such as to require investigation by public local inquiry before he makes a final decision, he shall cause such an inquiry to be held; and where he determines to cause such an inquiry to be held, any of the requirements of those provisions to which effect has not been given at the time of that determination shall be dispensed with.