(1)The duration of a London service permit shall not be longer than five years.
(2)If, on the date on which a London service permit is due to expire, an application has been made for the grant of a new London service permit in substitution for it and—
(a)Transport for London has neither granted nor refused to grant the London service permit applied for,
(b)Transport for London has refused to grant the London service permit applied for but an appeal against the refusal has been made under section 189 above and not disposed of, or
(c)Transport for London has granted the London service permit applied for but an appeal against a decision to attach a condition to the permit has been made under section 189 above and not disposed of,
subsection (3) below shall apply.
(3)Where this subsection applies, the existing London service permit shall continue in force—
(a)in a case falling within subsection (2)(a) above, until Transport for London grants or refuses to grant the London service permit applied for, or
(b)in a case falling within subsection (2)(b) or (c) above, until the appeal has been disposed of.
(4)Where subsection (3)(a) above applies, if Transport for London—
(a)refuses to grant the London service permit applied for, or
(b)grants the London service permit applied for but at the time of the grant attaches any condition to the permit,
the existing London service permit shall continue in force until any appeal which is made under section 189 above against the decision in question has been disposed of.
(5)This section is without prejudice to section 188 above.