134.—(1) The Board may in its absolute discretion, hold an oral hearing of an appeal, a referral under section 5 or an application under section 37E.

(2) (a) A party to an appeal or a referral under section 5 or an applicant under section 37E or any person who makes a submission or observation under section 37E may request an oral hearing of the appeal, referral or application, as appropriate.

(b) (i) A request for an oral hearing of an appeal, referral or application shall be made in writing to the Board and shall be accompanied by such fee (if any) as may be payable in respect of the request in accordance with section 144.

(ii) A request for an oral hearing of an appeal, referral or application which is not accompanied by such fee (if any) as may be payable in respect of the request shall not be considered by the Board.

(c) (i) A request by an appellant for an oral hearing of an appeal under section 37 shall be made within the appropriate period referred to in that section and any request received by the Board after the expiration of that period shall not be considered by the Board.

(ii) Where a provision of this Act, other than sections 37 and 254(6), authorising an appeal to the Board enables the appeal only to be made within, or before the expiration of, a specified period or before a specified day, a request by an appellant for an oral hearing of an appeal may only be made within, or before the expiration of, the specified period or before the specified day and any request for an oral hearing not so received by the Board shall not be considered by the Board.

(iii) A request by a person making a referral, by an applicant under section 37E or by an appellant under section 254(6) for an oral hearing of the referral, application or appeal, as the case may be, shall accompany the referral, application or appeal, and any request for an oral hearing received by the Board, other than a request which accompanies the referral, application or appeal, shall not be considered by the Board.

(d) A request by a party to an appeal or referral other than the appellant, or by a person who makes a submission or observation in relation to an application under section 37E, for an oral hearing shall be made—

(i) in respect of an appeal or referral, within the period referred to in section 129(2)(a) within which the party may make submissions or observations to the Board in relation to the appeal or referral,

(ii) in respect of an application under section 37E, within the period specified in a notice under that section within which the person may make submissions or observations to the Board in relation to the application,

and any such request received by the Board after the expiration of that period shall not be considered by the Board.

(3) Where the Board is requested to hold an oral hearing of an appeal, referral or application and decides to determine the appeal, referral or application without an oral hearing, the Board shall serve notice of its decision on—

(a) the person who requested the hearing and on each other party to the appeal or referral or, as appropriate, (unless he or she was the requester) the applicant under section 37E, and

(b) each person who has made submissions or observations to the Board in relation to the appeal, referral or application (not being the person who was the requester).

(4) (a) A request for an oral hearing may be withdrawn at any time.

(b) Where, following a withdrawal of a request for an oral hearing under paragraph (a), the appeal, referral or application falls to be determined without an oral hearing, the Board shall give notice that it falls to be so determined—

(i) to each other party to the appeal or referral or, as appropriate, (unless he or she was the person who withdrew the request) the applicant under section 37E, and

(ii) to each person who has made submissions or observations to the Board in relation to the appeal, referral or application (not being the person who withdrew the request).]