16.—(1) A person who has been notified under regulation 14(1), and who wishes to send representations to the Welsh Ministers, may do so provided they are received by the Welsh Ministers within 6 weeks of the starting date.
(2) The Welsh Ministers must—
(a)send to the appellant and the local planning authority, as soon as practicable after receipt, a copy of any representations received by the Welsh Ministers from any other person in relation to the appeal; and
(b)specify a period of not less than 2 weeks within which any written comments on the representations must be received by the Welsh Ministers.
(3) The Welsh Ministers may disregard comments made by the local planning authority under paragraph (2)(b) if the authority has failed to give the notice required by regulation 14.