Article 24 Procedure at inquiry

Except as otherwise provided in these Rules, the inspector shall determine the procedure at an inquiry.

Unless in any particular case the inspector with the consent of the promoting authority otherwise determines, the promoting authority shall begin and shall have the right of final reply. The other persons entitled or permitted to appear shall be heard in such order as the inspector may determine.

Persons specified in rule 13(1) and 22(1) shall be entitled to call evidence, and the promoting authority and the statutory objectors shall be entitled to cross-examine persons giving evidence, but, subject to paragraphs (2), (4), (5) and (7), the calling of evidence and the cross-examination of persons giving evidence shall otherwise be at the inspector’s discretion.

The inspector may refuse to permit —

which he considers to be irrelevant or repetitious but, where he refuses to permit the giving of oral evidence for these reasons, the person wishing to give evidence may submit to him in writing any such evidence or other matter before the close of the inquiry.

Where a person gives evidence at an inquiry by reading a summary in accordance with rule 23(4), the proof referred to in rule 23(1) shall, unless the person required to provide the summary notifies the inspector that he now wishes to rely on the contents of that summary only, be treated as tendered in evidence, and the person whose evidence the proof contains shall then be subject to cross-examination on it to the same extent as if it were evidence he had given orally.

The inspector may direct the promoting authority to provide facilities so that any person appearing at any inquiry may take or obtain copies of documentary evidence open to public inspection, subject to such a person paying to the promoting authority a reasonable charge for the provision of the facilities.

The inspector may require any person appearing or present at an inquiry who, in his opinion, is behaving in a disruptive manner to leave and may refuse to permit that person to return, or may permit him to return only on such conditions as he may specify; but any such person may submit to him in writing any evidence or other matters before the close of the inquiry.

The inspector may allow any person to alter or add to a statement of case served under rule 6 or 16 so far as may be necessary for the purposes of the inquiry; but he shall (if necessary by adjourning the inquiry) give every other person specified in rule 13(1) or 22(1) an adequate opportunity of considering any fresh matter or document introduced by the promoting authority.

The inspector may proceed with an inquiry in the absence of any person entitled to appear at it.

The inspector may take into account any written representation or evidence or any other document received by him from any person before an inquiry opens or during the inquiry, provided that he discloses it at the inquiry.

The inspector may from time to time adjourn an inquiry and, if the date, time and place of the adjourned inquiry be announced at the inquiry before the adjournment, no further notice shall be required.