FOI Request for retail park

James_N

In making a FOI request to my local council for a local retail park (to try and discover what was put in place for public parking originally and see if that has been subverted over the years by parking companies) I have had a reply.

This states that the information is already publicly available, and refers me to the council planning website or their offices.

Given that the information on the website is "bald", and has nothing attached - which is why I made the FOI request in the first place, because that's the first place I looked - should I expect a visit to the offices to be more productive.

Just to make myself clear - if I look at most private or public planning applications online I can see plans, proposals, environmental impact statements, etc - everything to get a clear picture. All I can see online for THIS retail park is the date and the single sentence headline application.

So, is a visit to the offices necessary, or is this a defective FOI request.

da_rule

A visit may be in order, as if the visit yields more information then it is in the public domain so the request wouldn't be 'defective'.

Stroma

I would ask for a review on the FOI request as well, say that you will make complaints if a full answer is not forthcoming.

enfield_freddy

I have 3 such requests listed on "what do they know" and not received replies , even tho I have complained , they still don,t answer, some relate back to nov 03 (aldi/parking eye)

da_rule

Perhaps i'm being a bit dense, but doesn't the Freedom of Information Act only cover public bodies? So therefore private companies/land owners etc aren't under any obligation to actually comply with requests made?

https://www.gov.uk/make-a-freedom-of-information-request/organisations-you-can-request-information-from

James_N

da_rule wrote: »

Perhaps i'm being a bit dense, but doesn't the Freedom of Information Act only cover public bodies? So therefore private companies/land owners etc aren't under any obligation to actually comply with requests made?

https://www.gov.uk/make-a-freedom-of-information-request/organisations-you-can-request-information-from

This FOI request was made to my local council, to look at the original planing application, decisions, stipulations, requirements, etc.

So it is a public body record, since the private developer had originally to submit proposals publicly.

da_rule

James_N wrote: »

This FOI request was made to my local council, to look at the original planing application, decisions, stipulations, requirements, etc.

So it is a public body record, since the private developer had originally to submit proposals publicly.

Oh right. The way I read your post was that the request had gone to the owner of the retail park.

So if they're saying the information is readily available in the public domain, then the only way to prove/disprove this is to go to the relevant office and check.

bazster

The FOI request has been made to the council regarding planning conditions.

Council websites are very variable in terms of planning application content and quality.

The papers are all available for inspection at the council offices. At some councils you can just turn up, others you need to make an appointment. There is no charge, but they will charge if you want copies of anything. I find that a notebook, pen and digital camera serve perfectly well when examining papers at the council office!

James_N

enfield_freddy wrote: »

I have 3 such requests listed on "what do they know" and not received replies , even tho I have complained , they still don,t answer, some relate back to nov 03 (aldi/parking eye)

This is exactly the kind of thing I want to find out about. We have a POSSIBLE situation where the original development decision was to provide x parking spaces for y hours parking (free or paid for). Then a parking company moves in and alters the y hours from what the planning permission said it should be to something else. And maybe alters free to pay. And no-one has reviewed or challenged this alteration.

bazster

Happens all the time. I got ParkingEye kicked out of one Aldi car park by pointing out to the council that the S106 Agreement had been breached.

enfield_freddy

James_N wrote: »

This is exactly the kind of thing I want to find out about. We have a POSSIBLE situation where the original development decision was to provide x parking spaces for y hours parking (free or paid for). Then a parking company moves in and alters the y hours from what the planning permission said it should be to something else. And maybe alters free to pay. And no-one has reviewed or challenged this alteration.

aldi preston , the counsil keep referring me to incorrect docuaments


anpr , (counsil owned) plungington rd car park (preston) the no9torious "£100 liquidation fee" I have FOI that no monies have been paid , however they will not stop anpr installing signs