The Disabled Persons (Badges for Motor Vehicles) (England) Regulations 2000

Appeals

10.—(1) An applicant for a disabled person’s badge whose application has been refused on the ground specified in regulation 8(2)(a) or the holder of a badge who has been required to return it in accordance with regulation 9(2) may appeal to the Secretary of State against the determination of the local authority in accordance with this regulation.

(2) The appeal shall be made by notice given within the period of 28 days beginning with the date on which the notice of the determination is given and the procedure specified in the following provisions of this regulation shall apply, except that, if the Secretary of State considers it appropriate in the circumstances of a particular case, he may determine an appeal even though the provisions of paragraphs (3) to (5) have not been complied with.

(3) The notice of appeal shall be dated and signed by the appellant (or by a person authorised to sign on his behalf) and shall state the grounds of appeal.

(4) The notice of appeal shall be served on the Secretary of State either by posting it in a prepaid envelope or by delivering it by hand to the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DR.

(5) On receipt of the appeal the Secretary of State shall send a copy of it to the local authority against whose determination the appeal is made and, within the period of 28 days beginning with the date of the notice of appeal, the local authority shall send to the Secretary of State and the appellant–

(a)a copy of the notice issued by it to the appellant in accordance with regulation 8(3) or 9(2); and

(b)any representation that it wishes the Secretary of State to take into account in determining the appeal.

(6) The appellant may make representations by way of reply to any representations made by the local authority within the period of 28 days beginning with the date of those representations.

(7) Any representations made by the local authority or the appellant shall be signed and dated and submitted to the Secretary of State on the date they bear.

(8) The Secretary of State may in a particular case give directions setting later time limits than those prescribed by these Regulations.

(9) When the Secretary of State determines an appeal he shall–

(a)give notice to the appellant of his determination and of the reasons for it; and

(b)send a copy of the notice to the local authority.

(10) If the Secretary of State refuses an appeal and a further appeal is not made under paragraph (11) the appellant shall return the disabled person’s badge to the local authority within the time prescribed by regulation 9(3)(c).

(11) A person aggrieved by notice given by the Secretary of State under paragraph (9) may, within the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which that notice is given, appeal to a magistrates' court acting for the petty sessions area in which the applicant for the disabled person’s badge resides and the court may confirm, vary or quash the notice as it thinks fit, and make such order in the matter as it considers appropriate, and the determination of the court on any such appeal shall be binding on all the parties, and shall be final.

(12) If the magistrates' court refuses an appeal the appellant shall return the disabled person’s badge to the local authority within the time prescribed by regulation 9(3)(c).

(13) In this regulation references to representations include a reference to supporting documents.