Local Government and Housing Act 1989

27 (1) In section 294 (extinguishment of public rights of way over land acquired), at the end of subsection (1) there shall be added the words “as from such date as the Secretary of State in approving the order may direct”.

(2) In subsection (2) of that section for the words from “they may make” onwards there shall be substituted “an order made by the authority in advance of the purchase and approved by the Secretary of State (whether before or after the purchase) shall extinguish that right as from such date as the Secretary of State in approving the order may direct”.

(3) In subsection (3) of that section—

(a) for the word “six” there shall be substituted “four”; and

(b) after the word “publication” there shall be inserted “then, subject to subsection (4)”.

(4) After that subsection there shall be inserted the following subsection—

“(4) The Secretary of State may dispense with such an inquiry as is referred to in subsection (3) if he is satisfied that in the special circumstances of the case the holding of such an inquiry is unnecessary.”