Petroleum (Consolidation) Act 1928

3 Appeals from refusals by local authorities to grant licences

(1) If on any application for a petroleum-spirit licence a local authority refuse to grant the licence, or grant the licence on conditions with which the applicant is dissatisfied, the local authority shall, if required by the applicant so to do, deliver to him a certificate in writing signed by the clerk or secretary of the local authority stating the grounds on which the authority has refused the licence or attached the conditions, as the case may be, and the applicant may appeal to the Secretary of State within ten days after the receipt of the certificate or within such further time as the Secretary of State may allow.

(2) Every appeal to the Secretary of State under this section shall be made in writing asking that the licence may be granted notwithstanding the refusal of the local authority, or that the conditions may not be attached or may be modified in such manner and to such extent as may be set forth in the appeal, and shall be accompanied by the certificate of the local authority given under the last foregoing subsection, and on consideration of any such appeal the Secretary of State may, if he thinks fit, grant the licence either without conditions or subject to such conditions as he thinks proper or may modify the conditions attached by the local authority, and any licence so granted or modified shall be in force for such time and be subject to such provisions as to renewal as may be specified in the licence, and shall, when certified under the hand of the Secretary of State, have effect as if granted by a local authority.

(3) Before exercising his powers under the last foregoing subsection with respect to any appeal, the Secretary of State may, if he thinks it necessary or desirable, cause an inquiry and report upon the matter to be made to him by such person as he may appoint for the purpose.