Gas Act 1965

8(1)Subject to this paragraph, if an objection to the application is duly made by any person on whom a notice was required to be served under paragraph 7(3) of this Schedule and the objection has not been withdrawn the Minister shall not grant the application unless he has caused a public local inquiry to be held and, without prejudice to [F1section 46 of the Gas Act 1972]as applied by section 22 of this Act, the Minister may if he thinks fit hold a public local inquiry in any other case.E+W+S

(2)The Minister may disregard an objection for the purposes of the foregoing sub-paragraph—

(a)if, in accordance with a request in writing from the objector disclaiming the right to a public local inquiry, the Minister has afforded the objector an opportunity of appearing before and being heard by a person appointed by the Minister for the purpose, or

(b)if the objection is, in the opinion of the Minister, trivial or frivolous or can be disposed of under the next following sub-paragraph.

(3)The Minister may disregard the objection for the purposes of sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph if he is satisfied that the objection relates exclusively to matters which can be dealt with by the Lands Tribunal on a claim for compensation.

(4)If any objector avails himself of the opportunity of being heard by a person appointed by the Minister for the purpose, the Minister shall afford to [F2the applicant], and to any other person to whom it appears to the Minister expedient to afford it, an opportunity of being heard on the same occasion.

(5)In this paragraph “public local inquiry” means an inquiry held under [F1section 46 of the Gas Act 1972].

Textual Amendments