What wildlife was found and where in Braddan, in particular, in 2012?

Summary

The requester asked the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture for wildlife survey results from Braddan in 2012 and subsequent years, but the authority stated it does not hold this specific information.

Key Facts

• The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture does not hold the requested ecological survey results from 2012.
• The Department was aware of the Manx Wildlife Trust report but had no further involvement in the project.
• The requester was advised to contact the Manx Wildlife Trust, Manx National Heritage, or use the NBN Atlas for the data.
• A paid land search service (£100) is available for species data, which is exempt from FOI as it is reasonably accessible otherwise.
• The request was closed on 6th November 2019 with an outcome of 'Information not held'.

Data Disclosed

• 2012
• 1990
• 2015
• 2012-13
• 15th October 2019
• 17th October 2019
• 6th November 2019
• £100
• pages 19-20
• section 20

Exemptions Cited

• Section 20 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (Information reasonably accessible by other means)

Original Request

Has DEFA received the resultes of the ecological survey done by Manx Wildlife Trust in 2012? If so, what wildlife was found on the Braddan Cemetery site? The same question applies to the site across Braddan Road, the largest in that area.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Freedom of Information Co-ordinator Corporate Services Directorate Thie Slieau Whallian, Foxdale Road, St John’s, Isle of Man, IM4 3AS Tel no (01624) 685854 Fax no (01624 685851 Email: defa@gov.im www.gov.im

Our ref: 1008649 6th November 2019

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 15th October 2019 and which states:

"Has DEFA received the results of the ecological survey done by Manx Wildlife Trust in 2012? If so, what wildlife was found on the Braddan Cemetery site? The same question applies to the site across Braddan Road, the largest in that area." A further email of the 17th October stated: “I would like to correct the name of the road in my request: it is Peel Road, rather than Braddan Road. I also have an update to the request, as I have received a report with a brief description of the Braddan Cemetery wildlife site (pages 19-20 of the attached PDF). My updated request to DEFA is for information on the ecological surveys done in Braddan after 1990 and 2012, i.e., after the curtailed 2012 survey of the Manx Wildlife Trust, which was done too early or too late (a constraint admitted on p.19 of the attached PDF). In particular, does DEFA have more complete and more up-to-date information on wildlife in the area between the Braddan cemetery wildlife site and the River Glass wildlife site?”

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the public authority does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested. The Department is aware of the report you mentioned in your request, as it had a member on the committee but has no further involvement.

Further information Although the Department doesn’t hold the information, you may wish to contact the Manx Wildlife Trust who may hold further information specific to that project. Another resource for research is the NBN Atlas for the Isle of Man where lots of data is available free of charge. Manx National Heritage, Manx Birdlife and Manx Bat Group may also hold specific data that may be of use to answer your enquiry. In relation to the part of your request for the “ecological surveys done in Braddan after … 2012”; a search could be run for species data if the land search form is sent in with the relevant fee (£100), further information at www.gov.im/about-the- government/departments/environment-food-and-agriculture/policy-enforcement-and- data-searches/. Habitat information created in a tentative remote sensed survey of 2015 could be included if you wish and there might be something in the review of phase 2 ecological survey areas undertaken in 2012-13 if there were any phase 2 surveyed sites in that area. The form can be found here https://www.gov.im/media/303477/land-search-form- october-2019.pdf As this information is reasonably accessible “ … whether free of charge or on payment, other than requesting it under [FoI]” under section 20 of the FoI Act, it is absolutely exempt from release here. Please quote the reference number 1008649 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.

In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely