Wayleave for telecommunications

Summary

The requester asked if landowners were paid wayleaves for telecommunications cables laid alongside gas pipelines since 2011 and if those cables were used for purposes other than pipeline management. The authority confirmed that no payments were made during this period and that the cables are used solely for utility control and monitoring.

Key Facts

• No wayleave payments have been made to landowners for telecommunications cables since October 2011.
• The easement agreement allows for additional payments if fibre is used by non-government entities.
• Fibre optic cables between Kirk Michael and Douglas are used exclusively for Manx Utilities control and monitoring.
• The cables support both the gas pipeline installation and the electricity network.
• The FOI obligation applies to information created on or after 11 October 2011.

Data Disclosed

• 11 October 2011
• 2001
• 2011
• 2020-06-09
• 2020-07-14
• 2020-06-29
• 1325209

Original Request

Have any landowners been paid a wayleave for the telecommunications cables that were laid at the time of the gas pipeline? Have the cables been used for anything other than the management of the gas pipeline and if so, since when? Thank you in advance. Clarification received: refers mainly to the 2001 main gas pipeline from Kirk Michael to Douglas along with the sub lines connected to it. So since the obligation is only from 2011 have any wayleaves been paid for any fibre optic cables running alongside or from any gas pipelines since that date.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Manx Utilities PO Box 177, Douglas Isle of Man, IM99 1PS

e: enquiries@manxutilities.im t: 01624 687687 www.manxutilities.im

Our ref: 1325209 14 July 2020

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 9 June 2020. We requested clarification, and this was received 29 June 2020 to state:

"Have any landowners been paid a wayleave for the telecommunications cables that were laid at the time of the gas pipeline? Have the cables been used for anything other than the management of the gas pipeline and if so, since when? Clarification received: refers mainly to the 2001 main gas pipeline from Kirk Michael to Douglas along with the sub lines connected to it. So since the obligation is only from 2011 have any wayleaves been paid for any fibre optic cables running alongside or from any gas pipelines since that date."

Our response to your request is as follows: I have detailed below the information that is being released to you under the FOI Act, as this covers all information created on or after 11 October 2011. 1) No payments have been made to any landowner for this period for telecommunications - although provision has been made within the easement agreement for an additional sum to be made if any laid fibre is used other than by institutions or agencies ( including other statutory boards) of or connected with Isle of Man Government. 2) Where fibres have been laid between Kirk Michael (Glen Moar) and Douglas (Pulrose Power Station) they are used solely for Manx Utilities control and monitoring of the gas pipeline installation and the electricity network.

Please quote the reference number 1325209 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