Environmental information

How to make a request for environmental information

It would be helpful if you could provide as much information as possible to help us find the information and process your enquiry. Please include the following information in your request:

  • Details of the information you are looking for. The more details you provide the easier it should be to locate the information requested.
  • The format you require the information, i.e. electronically/hard copy. All efforts will be made to provide the information in the format requested but this may not always be possible.
  • Your name and address. This will allow us to contact you should we have any questions regarding your enquiry.

What will happen when the Council receives your request?

The Council must reply to you within 20 working days of receiving your request. The Council will contact you within this time if further clarification is required to help process your request. If your request is complex, it may take the Council up to 40 working days to actually provide the information, if this is the case, you will be notified.

If the Council does not hold the information requested, but know of another public authority that does, the Council will also let you know.

What is 'environmental' information?

The definition of environmental information is very broad and includes information in written, visual, audio taped or database form on:

  • the state of elements of the environment – such as air, water, soil, land, landscape and natural sites, flora and fauna, including cattle, crops, genetically modified organisms, wildlife and biological diversity – and it includes any interaction between them
  • the state of human health and safety, conditions of human life, the food chain, cultural sites and built structures, which are, or likely to be affected by the state of the elements of the environment and the interaction between them
  • any factor such as substances, energy, noise, radiation or waste, including radioactive waste, emissions, discharges and other releases affecting or likely to affect the state of the elements of environment or any interaction between them
  • measures and activities affecting or likely to affect, or intended to protect the state of the elements of the environment and the interaction between them. This includes administrative measures, policies, legislation, plans, programmes and environmental agreements
  • emissions, discharges and other releases into the environment
  • cost benefit and other economic analysis used in environmental decision making.

There is a very broad range of information which could fall within the classification of environmental.