Environmental Information Regulations

What are the Environmental Information Regulations?

EIR Regulations give you the right of access to environmental business information held by the Council.

More information about these Regulations is available on the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs| website.

 

You can also download a public leaflet| which explains more about the Regulations. 

What is environmental information?

Environmental information covers information on the state of the environment, such as:

• Air, Atmosphere, Water, Soil, Land, Landscape (and the interactions between them)
• Information on emissions and discharges, noise, energy, radiation, waste and other such substances
• Measures and activities such as policies, plans and agreements
• Reports, costs benefit and economic analyses
• The state of human health and safety, contamination of the food chain
• Cultural sites and built structures (as they may be affected by environmental factors)

How do I access environmental information using these Regulations?

You may be able to find some information on the Council’s website.  You may find it useful to look at the Council’s Publication Guide|.

What do I do if I cannot find the information in the Publication Guide or on the Council’s website?

Sometimes information you are looking for may not be available on our website. If you cannot find what you are looking for, you can make a formal request for information| under these Regulations.

Will I be able to see all the information I have requested?

The Regulations permit access to environmental information. Some information you request may be withheld under the exceptions| set out in the Regulations. 

Is there a charge for making a request and for information being provided?

There is no charge for submitting a request and it is unlikely that you will be charged for information we provide to you. However, if a charge is identified, we will let you know before we proceed. More information can be found under Council’s fees and charges| page.

  

How will the information be provided to me?

You can tell us how you would like to receive the information and in what format. If we are unable to provide it in the format you have asked for, we will let you know and offer an alternative.

How long do I have to wait for information to be provided to me?

We will usually provide information to you within 20 working days of your request being received. If this is not possible, we will let you know. Sometimes it may take longer if:

• We need to clarify your request with you
• If the information you have asked for may be subject to exception
• If there is a charge and we are awaiting payment

How can I use information the Council has provided to me?

For more detailed information on how you can re-use information we provide to you, please see our re-use of public sector information| page.

If I am not happy with the way in which my request was handled or the information I have been provided with, can I appeal or make a complaint?

We do our best to resolve any issues that may arise in connection with your request. However, if you do not feel that we have resolved this satisfactorily, you can request an Internal Review which will be undertaken in accordance with the Council’s complaints procedure|.

 

If you are not happy with the outcome of the Internal Review, you can appeal to the Information Commissioner|.