Appeals under section 81(1)

3.—(1) An appeal under section 81(1) shall be made by notice in writing given to the Secretary of State for the Environment or the Secretary of State for Wales, as may be appropriate, at any time within the period allowed for compliance with the notice under section 80 to which the appeal relates.

(2) A notice of appeal under paragraph (1) above—

(a)shall be submitted in duplicate and shall state the grounds of the appeal by specifying the paragraph or paragraphs of section 81(1) under which the appeal is made, that is to say by specifying paragraph (a)(i), (a)(ii) or (b), and

(b)shall be accompanied—

(i)in respect of each paragraph so specified, by a statement of the facts and reasons on which the appeal, or that part of the appeal, is based;

(ii)by a copy of the notice under section 80 to which the appeal relates; and

(iii)by a copy of any other relevant documents.

(3) Where the Secretary of State determines that the disclosure of any information given by the appellant would—

(a)prejudice to an unreasonable degree any private interest relating to a trade secret, or

(b)be contrary to the public interest,

he shall withhold from the local authority—

(i)any statement furnished under paragraph (2)(b)(i) above in respect of any appeal based on a ground contained in paragraph (a)(i) or (a)(ii) of section 81(1), and

(ii)any other document furnished by the appellant which contains any such information.

(4) The Secretary of State shall send to the local authority a copy of the notice of appeal and, subject to paragraph (3) above, of every other document submitted by the appellant under this regulation.

(5) The Secretary of State may, if he thinks fit, require the appellant or the local authority to submit within a specified period a further statement in writing in respect of any of the matters to which the appeal relates and if, after considering the grounds of the appeal and any such further statement, the Secretary of State is satisfied that he is sufficiently informed for the purpose of reaching a decision as to the matters to which the appeal relates, he may decide the appeal without further investigation; but if he does not so decide it, the Secretary of State shall (except in a case where he causes a local inquiry to be held under section 96), if either party so desire, afford to each of them an opportunity of appearing before, and being heard by, a person appointed by the Secretary of State for that purpose.