Department of Infrastructure
451 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 100.0%
The Freedom of Information requests to the Isle of Man Department of Infrastructure reveal an authority that is selectively transparent, often prioritizing commercial confidentiality and administrative convenience over public scrutiny. A recurring theme is the 'black box' nature of major transport procurement; while the Department readily discloses the existence of projects like the Douglas Promenade or the purchase of Mercedes buses, it consistently withholds specific financial figures, citing commercial sensitivity (Cases 355921, 361167). Furthermore, the Department frequently relies on the 'information not held' exemption to avoid answering questions about specific costs for major events like the TT (Case 355883) or historical road adoptions (Case 355761), suggesting significant gaps in data retention and financial granularity.
Key Cases
Case 355857 — This case marks a critical turning point where the Department invoked the 'vexatious' exemption to block a series of requests regarding the Douglas Promenade and steam locomotives. It highlights the tension between persistent public scrutiny and the administrative burden, effectively shutting down a line of inquiry that had previously yielded partial results.
Case 355921 — A significant disclosure regarding the procurement of Mercedes buses, where the Department explicitly cited commercial sensitivity to withhold pricing and contract details. This case exemplifies the 'black box' nature of major transport spending, where the public knows buses were bought but not the specific financial terms.
Case 449033 — This case is notable for being 'Upheld - partial' following an internal review. The Information Commissioner found the Department had incorrectly applied a 'not held' exemption to the ZipTrip app costs, forcing a re-processing. It serves as a rare instance of the Department's initial refusal being challenged and corrected, revealing hidden financial data.
Case 355883 — The refusal to provide specific costs for TT (Tourist Trophy) road repairs, claiming they are not recorded separately from normal activities. Given the TT is the island's most significant economic event, the inability to isolate its infrastructure costs raises questions about financial accountability for major events.
Case 358461 — The complete withholding of information regarding a 2013 electric shock incident on the Manx Electric Railway due to 'ongoing legal proceedings.' This case underscores how legal risk is used as a blanket exemption to prevent the public from understanding the safety history of heritage transport.
Related FOI Stories
The Douglas Promenade: From Transparency to Vexatious Refusal — #355795, #355857, #355859, #355861, #355863
Commercial Secrecy in Transport Procurement — #355763, #355921, #361167, #355893, #356129
Data Gaps and 'Not Held' Defenses — #355761, #355773, #355883, #355895, #361191
Safety Incidents and Legal Exemptions — #358443, #358461, #355863, #355921, #548540
Housing and Social Welfare Opacity — #355805, #358449, #358451, #355925, #647165
All (451)
All information sent (451) ·
Some information sent but not all held (145) ·
Information not held (123) ·
Some information sent but part exempt (120) ·
No information sent - all held but exempt (53) ·
Not required to fulfill request (22) ·
Not upheld (12) ·
Upheld - partial (10) ·
Vexatious request (6) ·
Request lapsed - requested information not provided (5) ·
Withdrawn (3) ·
Upheld - full (1) ·
Neither confirm or deny information held (1) ·
| Date | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2020-03-04 | The steam train known as 'Mannin' | All information sent |
| A request was made regarding the plans, costs, and Treasury approval for overhauling the steam train 'Mannin'. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that the train was moved to remove asbestos and assess its condition, stating that specific Treasury approval is not required and costs cannot be determined until the assessment is complete. | ||
| 2020-03-04 | Promenade Concrete Cracking | All information sent |
| The request sought minutes from a meeting convened to discuss concrete cracking on the Douglas Promenade, and the Department of Infrastructure disclosed the full minutes of the meeting held on 28 January 2020. | ||
| 2020-03-03 | Road speed limits and changes since 2004 | All information sent |
| The request sought data on new speed limits introduced since 2004, road works policies, and accident statistics in speed-restricted areas. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that records for temporary limits only exist from 2015, provided links to permanent orders and UK traffic manuals, and supplied 2019 collision statistics. | ||
| 2020-02-27 | Traffic/Parking Birch Hill/Hillberry Road Areas | All information sent |
| A request was made for statistics on illegal parking notices and complaints in the Birch Hill and Briarfield Avenue areas over the past five years. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that only two fixed penalty notices were issued and no records of complaints were found for the specified period. | ||
| 2020-02-12 | Waste delivered to EfW by Northern Parishes Refuse Collection Board | All information sent |
| The Department of Infrastructure disclosed waste tonnage, charges, and cost per tonne for domestic and commercial waste delivered to the Energy from Waste facility by the Northern Parishes Refuse Collection Board for the financial years 2017-2019 and the partial year to December 2019. | ||
| 2020-02-12 | Promenade | All information sent |
| The requester inquired about potential liquidated damages for a delayed contractor and reasons for work stoppages, including weather claims. The Department of Infrastructure confirmed that while the contract allows for damages, none have been applied yet, and no weather-related compensation events have been triggered. | ||
| 2020-02-11 | Profit of Bus Vannin | All information sent |
| The requester asked for annual profit figures for Bus Vannin since 2009, but the Department of Infrastructure responded that the service does not generate profit and receives subventions for socially desirable services. | ||
| 2020-02-06 | Heritage rail passenger numbers | All information sent |
| The request sought details on heritage rail passenger counting methods and specific single-journey figures for the Manx Electric Railway (MER) from 2015 to 2019. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed the transition from manual counts to a Ticketer system, provided aggregate MER passenger data, but stated they could not supply the requested specific single-journey breakdowns. | ||
| 2020-02-05 | Peel marina income verses cost | All information sent |
| 2020-02-04 | Promenade | All information sent |
| A request was made regarding the financial status, schedule, and quality control of the Promenade construction project. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that certified payments total over £6 million, the project is within budget but delayed until August 2021, and defects have been notified rather than work condemned. | ||
| 2020-02-03 | Ramsey Marina | All information sent |
| The requester asked for timescales regarding the next stages of the Ramsey Marina development process after being referred from the Attorney General's office. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that only the Ramsey proposal was viable, outlined the next steps involving an appraisal report and lease negotiations, but confirmed there are no concrete timescales. | ||
| 2020-01-30 | Steam Trains | All information sent |
| The requester asked for passenger statistics for the Isle of Man steam railway in 2018 and 2019, specifically broken down by dining car usage. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed the total passenger counts and the requested breakdowns for both years. | ||
| 2020-01-22 | Heritage Trail | All information sent |
| A request was made regarding the decision-making process, consultation, and cost of the surface material for the Heritage Trail. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that recycled road planings were chosen by the Design Team over type 1 gravel, no formal consultation occurred due to compliance with guidance, and the material cost is 85 pence per square meter. | ||
| 2020-01-20 | Grievence/fairness at work complaints | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure for the number of grievance and fairness at work complaints against Highway services management over the last two years. The authority disclosed the specific counts for 2018 and 2019, confirming all requested information was sent. | ||
| 2020-01-20 | Request of purchase | All information sent |
| The requester asked for details regarding the purchase of the Strathallan Depot from Douglas Corporation, including cost, budget source, signatory, and completion date. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that the purchase price was £10.00, funded by the Transport Services Division, signed by the Chief Executive, and completed in April 2017. | ||
| 2020-01-15 | Peel Marina Project Board | All information sent |
| A request was made for minutes of the Peel Marina Project Board meetings, and the Department of Infrastructure disclosed all information including 161 pages of documents covering silt management strategies and environmental data. | ||
| 2020-01-10 | Student Air Traffic Controllers | All information sent |
| The request sought recruitment statistics for Student Air Traffic Controller positions, specifically regarding application numbers and test pass rates. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that 119 applications were received, with 9 candidates passing the FEAST 1 test and 4 passing the FEAST 2 test. | ||
| 2019-12-11 | Douglas Promenade Strategic Project Board Minutes | All information sent |
| The requester asked for minutes from the Douglas Promenade Strategic Project Board meeting held on 13 September 2019. The Department of Infrastructure confirmed that all requested information was sent via attachment and will also be published on the MyProm website. | ||
| 2019-12-05 | What percentage of rent is generated from council properties | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the monetary value of rent generated and reinvested into Department of Infrastructure social housing for 2018/19. The authority disclosed total rent collected, maintenance expenditure, and clarified that major capital investment is funded separately by the Treasury. | ||
| 2019-12-05 | What is the cost of casual staff | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the cost of casual driving for supervisors and management on Sundays for Bus Vannin. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that pay rates depend on whether staff are on old or new terms, providing specific hourly figures for both. | ||
| 2019-11-22 | Total vehicle licences issued 01/10/2018 - 30/09/2019 | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the total number of vehicle licences issued in the Isle of Man between October 2018 and September 2019, broken down by category. The Department of Infrastructure provided the full data, confirming a total of 77,182 licences issued, which includes both new registrations and renewals. | ||
| 2019-11-12 | Provide Information of teh Number of Vehicles in use by Goverment | All information sent |
| The requester asked the Department of Infrastructure for a breakdown of government vehicles by department, including status and hired vehicles. The authority provided a detailed table of 1,102 vehicles across various departments and listed specific hired vehicles, while noting they could not account for vehicles managed by other authorities outside their fleet system. | ||
| 2019-11-11 | Zero hour contracts on bus service | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure regarding the number of bus service employees on zero-hour contracts and their pay rates. The authority disclosed that 179 staff members are on such contracts across minibus and big bus sections, with specific hourly rates and holiday pay details provided. | ||
| 2019-11-06 | Port Jack, Onchan | All information sent |
| The requester asked for all defect reports and maintenance records for the Port Jack pavement in Onchan since August 2016. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed a database extract detailing two specific public complaints, their resolutions, and three routine inspections where no defects were found. | ||
| 2019-10-31 | Cabbage | All information sent |
| The requester inquired about the operational history and breakdown costs of a vehicle named 'Cabbage', which the Department of Infrastructure identified as Diesel Loco No. 21. The authority disclosed that the locomotive operated from August to October 2019 without breakdowns, though it was withdrawn for precautionary investigation regarding an abnormal current draw. | ||
| 2019-10-10 | Douglas Promenade | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure regarding expenditure and project status for the Douglas Promenade scheme. The authority disclosed total payments to the contractor and professionals as of October 2019 and confirmed the project is behind schedule. | ||
| 2019-10-03 | Drain & culvert management plans | All information sent |
| The requester asked for maintenance and repair schedules for drains and culverts in Laxey village for 2018 and 2019. The Department of Infrastructure provided the requested information in an attachment, with some personal data redacted under Section 25 of the Act. | ||
| 2019-09-24 | Defective concrete Douglas Promenade | All information sent |
| A request was made for documents explaining concrete failure on the Douglas Promenade and all correspondence between the client and contractor. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed all requested information across eight appendices, noting that some personal data was redacted under data protection exemptions. | ||
| 2019-09-13 | Delegation of Parking Enforcement Powers to Ramsey Town Commissioners | All information sent |
| The requester asked for communications and meeting minutes regarding the delegation of parking enforcement powers to Ramsey Town Commissioners. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed email trails concerning parking controllers and training, along with operative warrants, but noted that no meeting minutes were captured for training sessions. | ||
| 2019-09-03 | Village Connect Services to Doctors and/or Cottage Hospital | All information sent |
| The request sought statistics on Village Connect transport usage for Ramsey medical facilities and any policies regarding unarranged pickups. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed usage figures since the service's inception and confirmed there is no specific policy for unarranged pickups beyond standard procedures. | ||
| 2019-08-23 | Bus Vannin | All information sent |
| The requester asked for Bus Vannin's punctuality targets, on-time performance statistics, and complaint data for the last twelve months. The Department of Infrastructure provided a monthly breakdown of complaints and feedback types but did not disclose the specific punctuality targets or on-time performance statistics requested. | ||
| 2019-08-14 | Bus Vannin driver's pay. | All information sent |
| A request was made to identify the highest hourly rate paid to any person driving a bus for Bus Vannin in 2019. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that the highest paid driver was the Chief Executive Officer, who drives occasionally without extra pay, resulting in a calculated hourly rate of £36.68 compared to a maximum of £20.03 for contracted drivers. | ||
| 2019-08-13 | Douglas Promenade Scheme extras bills | All information sent |
| The requester asked for a breakdown of extra costs incurred and future costs for the Douglas Promenade Scheme, along with approval limits. The Department of Infrastructure responded that no extra costs have been incurred to date, the project is within budget, and future utility costs will be borne by Manx Utilities. | ||
| 2019-08-12 | Prom concdetr | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure regarding the conclusions of an investigation into defective concrete. The authority responded that the investigation is still ongoing and no definitive answer is currently available. | ||
| 2019-08-06 | Promenade | All information sent |
| A request was made regarding delays, contract extensions, and expenditure for the Promenade project, to which the Department of Infrastructure disclosed reasons for the delay, clarified the NEC4 contract mechanism, and provided specific financial figures. | ||
| 2019-07-22 | Promenade concretr | All information sent |
| The requester asked about the cause, liability, volume, strength, and cost of cracked concrete on a promenade. The Department of Infrastructure responded that the cause is under investigation, liability is undetermined, and replacement costs are undefined, though they provided estimates for volume and concrete strength. | ||
| 2019-07-22 | Douglas Promenade Scheme - Surveying of Douglas Promenade | All information sent |
| The requester asked for reasons and costs regarding re-surveying under the Douglas Promenade carriageway. The Department of Infrastructure clarified that no under-carriageway re-surveying occurred, only standard topographical work, and stated that specific costs are held by the main contractor, not the Department. | ||
| 2019-07-22 | Coning and signage | All information sent |
| The requester asked for specific details on the purchase or rental costs of cones and signage for the Douglas Promenade repair. The Department of Infrastructure responded that the equipment was neither owned nor leased by the government, but supplied as part of a larger traffic management tender where individual costs are not separately indicated. | ||
| 2019-07-16 | Dept staff employed on full time contracts | All information sent |
| The request sought staff numbers and annual salary costs for full-time, part-time, and zero-hour contracts at the Isle of Man Airport, including the fire service. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that there are 107 full-time and 6 part-time airport staff with no zero-hour contracts, alongside 31 full-time fire service staff, providing total salary costs of £6.7 million and £1.8 million respectively. | ||
| 2019-07-03 | Prom cones and signage | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure for the cost of coning and signage related to the Douglas Promenade repairs. The authority disclosed that the total cost for the ongoing traffic management resource, including these items, was £355,988.26. | ||
| 2019-07-01 | Wildlife killed at the airport | All information sent |
| The request sought details on wildlife culling at the Isle of Man Airport, including species, methods, and relocation figures for the last three years. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that culling is a regulatory requirement for aviation safety, involving shooting and trapping, with no veterinary involvement or relocation of animals. | ||
| 2019-06-26 | Connect Villages | All information sent |
| A request was made for booking statistics and driver employment details regarding the Isle of Man's Connect Villages and ConnectPorts services. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed journey counts, passenger numbers, free pass usage, and staffing arrangements, noting that the ConnectPorts service to the sea terminal had not yet launched. | ||
| 2019-06-21 | Impact of Promenade works | All information sent |
| The requester asked for documents detailing steps taken to assess alternative access, parking, and compensation for businesses affected by promenade works. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed all requested information, including a specific statutory order establishing an off-street parking place at Strathallan, Douglas. | ||
| 2019-06-17 | Horse Tram Costs | All information sent |
| The Department of Infrastructure responded to a request for a cost breakdown regarding the £700 loss incurred by the Horse Tram service during the 2019 TT period, disclosing a supplemental costing sheet and explaining operational constraints. | ||
| 2019-06-17 | Screening of Baggage Hall | All information sent |
| The request sought details on legislation, costs, and income regarding the screening of the Isle of Man airport baggage hall with advertisements. The Department of Infrastructure confirmed there is no specific legislation requiring the screening, costs were covered by the advertiser, and the annual income generated is £10,000. | ||
| 2019-05-28 | Hedge and verge trimming on A5 between Cooil roundabout and Ballasalla | All information sent |
| The requester asked for risk assessments and method statements regarding hedge trimming on the A5 to ensure minimal cutting and protection of wildlife. The Department of Infrastructure responded by providing the 'Manx Hedgerow Management Code of Best Practice' which outlines the rules for cutting dates and wildlife protection. | ||
| 2019-05-15 | Glyphosate Useage | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure regarding the use of glyphosate-based herbicides in public areas like schools due to health concerns. The authority responded by disclosing a Safety Data Sheet for 'Barclay Gallup 360 SL', confirming the product contains glyphosate and is used for agricultural and horticultural purposes. | ||
| 2019-05-08 | Highway Services | All information sent |
| The requester asked if the 'Highway services' costs mentioned in a previous response referred to Department of Infrastructure staff. The authority clarified that these costs cover both internal and external designers within the Department's Design Team. | ||
| 2019-05-07 | Eviction noticed served since 2014, and reasons. | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the number and grounds of eviction notices served by the Department of Infrastructure for housing properties since 2014. The authority disclosed a full breakdown of 'Notices to Quit' issued by the Coroner, categorized by 'Rent Arrears' and 'Other' reasons for each financial year from 2014-15 to 2018-19. | ||
| 2019-04-25 | Brown field site | All information sent |
| The Department of Infrastructure responded to a request for a list of properties owned within the Eastern Area Plan map, disclosing a comprehensive inventory of 5 pages across 2 documents. | ||
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