1. In section 78, for subsections (1) to (5) substitute—
“(1) Where a discontinuance notice has been served on any person by a local planning authority under regulation 8 of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007 that person may, if he is aggrieved by the notice, appeal by notice under this section to the Secretary of State.
(2) Notice of appeal shall be given in writing to the Secretary of State at any time before the date on which the discontinuance notice is due to take effect under regulation 8(4), taking account where appropriate of any extension of time under regulation 8(6), of those Regulations, or such longer period as the Secretary of State may allow.
(3) A notice of appeal shall be accompanied by a copy of each of the following documents—
(a)the discontinuance notice;
(b)any notice of variation; and
(c)any relevant correspondence with the authority.
(4) Where an appeal is brought under this section, the Secretary of State may require the appellant or the local planning authority to submit to him, within such period as he may specify, a statement in writing in respect of such matters relating to the discontinuance notice as he may specify and if, after considering the grounds of appeal and any such statement, the Secretary of State is satisfied that he has sufficient information to enable him to determine the appeal, he may, with the agreement in writing of both the appellant and the local planning authority, determine the appeal without complying with section 79(2).”.