Section 294 — Housing Act 1985: Extinguishment of public rights of way over land acquired.

Extinguishment of public rights of way over land acquired. 294 1 The local housing authority may, with the approval of the Secretary of State, by order extinguish any public right of way over land acquired by them under section 290 (land acquired for clearance) as from such date as the Secretary of State in approving the order may direct .

2 Where the authority have resolved to purchase under that section land over which a public right of way exists, an order made by the authority in advance of the purchase and approved by the Secretary of State (whether before or after the purchase) shall extinguish that right as from such date as the Secretary of State in approving the order may direct .

3 The order shall be published in such manner as may be prescribed and if objection to the order is made to the Secretary of State before the expiration of four weeks from its publication then, subject to subsection (4) , he shall not approve the order until he has caused a public local inquiry to be held into the matter.

4 The Secretary of State may dispense with such an inquiry as is referred to in subsection (3) if he is satisfied that in the special circumstances of the case the holding of such an inquiry is unnecessary.