10.—(1) The Secretary of State may proceed to a decision on an appeal taking into account only such written representations as have been submitted within the relevant time limits.
(2) The Secretary of State may, after giving the appellant and the local planning authority written notice of his intention to do so, proceed to a decision on an appeal notwithstanding that no written representations have been made within the relevant time limits if it appears to him that he has sufficient material before him to enable him to reach a decision on the merits of the case.
(3) In this regulation “relevant time limits” means the time limits prescribed by these Regulations or, where the Secretary of State has exercised his power under regulation 9, any later time limits.