Closure of the Jurby Parade Ground to Motorcyle related activities

Summary

A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure regarding the closure of Jurby Parade Ground to motorcycle activities, specifically asking for the reason for the ban and complaint statistics. The authority disclosed that the restriction was implemented due to complaints from a local resident and the Parish Commissioners, and clarified that no specific threshold of complaints is required to enforce such restrictions.

Key Facts

• A sign was installed to prevent motorcycles, campervans, and caravans from using the Parade Ground due to complaints.
• Any use of the Parade Ground now requires prior approval from the Department to ensure indemnities are in place.
• The Department received one complaint from an individual living in the vicinity.
• A second complaint was received from Jurby Parish Commissioners on behalf of local residents.
• There is no set limit on the number of complaints required to place signage disallowing unauthorized use of Department land.

Data Disclosed

• 2020-07-29
• 2020-08-06
• 1391761
• one complaint
• two complaints

Original Request

I have used, as have many members of my family and friends, used the Old Parade Ground at Jurby for many years learning how to ride Motorcycles. Now my children wish to learn to ride motorcycles. Many people have also used this small but ideal area to understand the technicalities of bikes and even learn to drive cars with their parent before taking the 'plunge' and driving/ riding on the Islands roads (a lot safer). I would like to ask the following questions under the available Freedom of Information legislation:- * Why has a sign been put in place to now disallow the recreational riding of motorcycles? * How many people from the surrounding area, where houses are far removed from the grounds anyway (in my opinion) have complained about the use of children learning how to ride motorcycles on this ground? * How many complaints where needed before a restriction on the use of the parade ground were enforced? I plan to gather a petition of names of people in the surrounding area (who also have children who use the grounds) who would endorse the use of the Parade ground for recreational use again. I look forward to your prompt reply,

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Department of Infrastructure Sea Terminal Building, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2RF

Contact: FOI Response Team/EH/MF Telephone: (01624) 686785 Email: dpo-doi@gov.im

Our ref: 1391761 6 August 2020

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 29 July 2020 and which states:

"I have used, as have many members of my family and friends, used the Old Parade Ground at Jurby for many years learning how to ride Motorcycles. Now my children wish to learn to ride motorcycles. Many people have also used this small but ideal area to understand the technicalities of bikes and even learn to drive cars with their parent before taking the 'plunge' and driving/ riding on the Islands roads (a lot safer). I would like to ask the following questions under the available Freedom of Information legislation:- * Why has a sign been put in place to now disallow the recreational riding of motorcycles? * How many people from the surrounding area, where houses are far removed from the grounds anyway (in my opinion) have complained about the use of children learning how to ride motorcycles on this ground? * How many complaints where needed before a restriction on the use of the parade ground were enforced? I plan to gather a petition of names of people in the surrounding area (who also have children who use the grounds) who would endorse the use of the Parade ground for recreational use again. I look forward to your prompt reply,"

The answers to your questions are: 1. A sign has been put in place to prevent motorcycles, campervans and caravans using the Parade Ground due to various complaints received. Any use of the Parade Ground requires prior approval from the Department to ensure that all necessary indemnities are in place and to ensure that the Department can accommodate the proposed use on the Parade Ground.

1. The Department received one complaint from an individual who lives in the vicinity and a complaint from Jurby Parish Commissioners on behalf of local residents.
2. The Department does not have a limit on the number of complaints required in order to place signage to disallow unauthorised use of the Department’s land. Please quote the reference number 1391761 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 us and we 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 us. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi. We will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely

FOI Response Team