Mountain Road Closure

Authority	Cabinet Office
Date received	2022-01-20
Outcome	All information sent
Outcome date	2022-02-10
Case ID	2202062

Summary

The requester asked for all correspondence between the Cabinet Office and media outlets regarding the Mountain Road closure for TT 2022 preparations. The authority released a news release and a formal response letter but withheld some information citing an exemption for personal data.

Key Facts

Improvement works on the Mountain Road were scheduled to begin in February 2022 and run for six weeks.
The road closure was necessary to fully reconstruct the highway and footpath at Stella Maris below Ramsey Hairpin.
Full closure between Ramsey and the Bungalow was planned from Monday 28 February to no later than Friday 15 April.
Daytime closures between the Bungalow and Creg-ny-Baa were scheduled from Monday 4 April to Friday 15 April.
Some requested correspondence was withheld because it contained personal data of individuals other than the requester.

Data Disclosed

2022-01-20
2022-02-10
2022-02-28
2022-04-15
2022-04-04
9.15am
4pm
384
section 25
2202062

Exemptions Cited

Section 25 of the Act (absolutely exempt personal information)

Original Request

Hi, I request a copy of all correspondence between Cabinet Office staff and media outlets about the Mountain Road closure. By "correspondence", I mean written records (in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act) which might be on email or other electronic messaging services (such as WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, SMS/text messaging, or any other electronic messaging services not identified here). By "media outlets" I mean organisations which report news, trading under names such as Manx Radio, Isle of Man Newspapers, Gef the Mongoose, 3FM, EnergyFM, or others. By "the Mountain Road closure" I mean the event described online here: https://www.gov.im/news/2022/jan/20/mountain-road-closures-to-enable-improvements-ahead-of-tt-2022/

Data Tables (1)

From: Isle of Man Government To: Parry, Stephen Subject: Mountain Road closures to enable improvements ahead of TT 2022 Date: 20 January 2022 12:39:12
Caution: This email is from an external sender. Please take care before opening any attachments or following any links. # NEWS RELEASE 20 January 2022 Mountain Road closures to enable improvements ahead of TT 2022 Improvement works on the Mountain Road will begin next month and run for six weeks in preparation for the 2022 Isle of Man TT. Major works will be taking place at Stella Maris, below Ramsey Hairpin, to fully reconstruct the highway and footpath. The only practicable way to facilitate these significant works is to close the road entirely at this point for the six week duration of the works, as the width of the road means traffic control measures are unsuitable. Other works have been scheduled to take place at the same time, to reduce overall disruption, including line painting, surface repairs, verge maintenance and the installation of TT signage over the length of the Mountain Road. Much of the work was due to be undertaken during 2021, but was postponed following consultation with businesses, stakeholders and feedback from the public. The six-week schedule will require the following road closures: Monday 28 February, to no later than Friday 15 April: full closure between Ramsey and the Bungalow. Monday 4 April, to no later than Friday 15 April: daytime closures to facilitate commuter traffic, closures will be from 9.15am to 4pm Monday to Friday, between the Bungalow and Creg-ny-Baa. The project cannot be started any later in the year as the road surface and lining must have sufficient time to weather before TT 2022.The six-week window takes into account the risk of poor weather and fewer hours of daylight, and will avoid the need for any additional closures for planned works over the summer period. Infrastructure Minister Tim Crookall MHK said: ‘These works are necessary to ensure the highway continues to be fit for purpose. The work is also necessary to ensure that this year’s TT races can go ahead. The feedback from the public has been invaluable in identifying a schedule that reduces disruption for residents and businesses by completing a range of different jobs at the same time.’

From: Isle of Man Government To: Parry, Stephen Subject: Mountain Road closures to enable improvements ahead of TT 2022 Date: 20 January 2022 12:39:12

Caution: This email is from an external sender. Please take care before opening any attachments or following any links. # NEWS RELEASE 20 January 2022 Mountain Road closures to enable improvements ahead of TT 2022 Improvement works on the Mountain Road will begin next month and run for six weeks in preparation for the 2022 Isle of Man TT. Major works will be taking place at Stella Maris, below Ramsey Hairpin, to fully reconstruct the highway and footpath. The only practicable way to facilitate these significant works is to close the road entirely at this point for the six week duration of the works, as the width of the road means traffic control measures are unsuitable. Other works have been scheduled to take place at the same time, to reduce overall disruption, including line painting, surface repairs, verge maintenance and the installation of TT signage over the length of the Mountain Road. Much of the work was due to be undertaken during 2021, but was postponed following consultation with businesses, stakeholders and feedback from the public. The six-week schedule will require the following road closures: Monday 28 February, to no later than Friday 15 April: full closure between Ramsey and the Bungalow. Monday 4 April, to no later than Friday 15 April: daytime closures to facilitate commuter traffic, closures will be from 9.15am to 4pm Monday to Friday, between the Bungalow and Creg-ny-Baa. The project cannot be started any later in the year as the road surface and lining must have sufficient time to weather before TT 2022.The six-week window takes into account the risk of poor weather and fewer hours of daylight, and will avoid the need for any additional closures for planned works over the summer period. Infrastructure Minister Tim Crookall MHK said: ‘These works are necessary to ensure the highway continues to be fit for purpose. The work is also necessary to ensure that this year’s TT races can go ahead. The feedback from the public has been invaluable in identifying a schedule that reduces disruption for residents and businesses by completing a range of different jobs at the same time.’

Full Response Text

From: Isle of Man Government To: Parry, Stephen Subject: Mountain Road closures to enable improvements ahead of TT 2022 Date: 20 January 2022 12:39:12 Caution: This email is from an external sender. Please take care before opening any attachments or following any links. NEWS RELEASE

20 January 2022 Mountain Road closures to enable improvements ahead of TT 2022 Improvement works on the Mountain Road will begin next month and run for six weeks in preparation for the 2022 Isle of Man TT. Major works will be taking place at Stella Maris, below Ramsey Hairpin, to fully reconstruct the highway and footpath. The only practicable way to facilitate these significant works is to close the road entirely at this point for the six week duration of the works, as the width of the road means traffic control measures are unsuitable. Other works have been scheduled to take place at the same time, to reduce overall disruption, including line painting, surface repairs, verge maintenance and the installation of TT signage over the length of the Mountain Road. Much of the work was due to be undertaken during 2021, but was postponed following consultation with businesses, stakeholders and feedback from the public. The six-week schedule will require the following road closures: Monday 28 February, to no later than Friday 15 April: full closure between Ramsey and the Bungalow. Monday 4 April, to no later than Friday 15 April: daytime closures to facilitate commuter traffic, closures will be from 9.15am to 4pm Monday to Friday, between the Bungalow and Creg-ny-Baa. The project cannot be started any later in the year as the road surface and lining must have sufficient time to weather before TT 2022.The six-week window takes into account the risk of poor weather and fewer hours of daylight, and will avoid the need for any additional closures for planned works over the summer period. Infrastructure Minister Tim Crookall MHK said: ‘These works are necessary to ensure the highway continues to be fit for purpose. The work is also necessary to ensure that this year’s TT races can go ahead. The feedback from the public has been invaluable in identifying a schedule that reduces disruption for residents and businesses by completing a range of different jobs at the same time.’ Access will be retained at all times to Snaefell and the Victory Café via Tholt-y-Will Road (for the duration of the works) and via Hillberry (except during the April closures). Access to the Creg-Ny-Baa Hotel from Douglas via Hillberry and the Creg Ny Baa Back Road will be unaffected. It will also be accessible from the Tholt Y Will/Bungalow route (except during the April Closures). Ends Word count: 384 Media Contact: Pam Teare, pam.teare@gov.im Notes to Editors: Victory Café – there will be an access corridor from the Tholt Y Will Road at all times. Access from Douglas will be maintained other than Monday to Friday between 4th and 15th April. Additional signs will be deployed to support this business Creg -Ny -Baa Hotel– access from Douglas and the Creg Na Baa Back road will be unaffected. Access via Tholt Y Will Road and southern section of the Mountain Road will be available as previously indicated. Additional signage to show that the business is open will be deployed If you would no longer like to receive mail from us you can unsubscribe.

Government Office Douglas Isle of Man IM1 3PN Telephone: (+44) 01624 686244 Website: www.gov.im/co

Our ref: 2202062 10 February 2022

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 20 January 2022 and which states:

"Hi, I request a copy of all correspondence between Cabinet Office staff and media outlets about the Mountain Road closure. By "correspondence", I mean written records (in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act) which might be on email or other electronic messaging services (such as WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, SMS/text messaging, or any other electronic messaging services not identified here). By "media outlets" I mean organisations which report news, trading under names such as Manx Radio, Isle of Man Newspapers, Gef the Mongoose, 3FM, EnergyFM, or others. By "the Mountain Road closure" I mean the event described online here: https://www.gov.im/news/2022/jan/20/mountain-road-closures-to- enable-improvements-ahead-of-tt-2022/"

I have attached copies of the information that is being released to you. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because it is absolutely exempt under section 25 of the Act (absolutely exempt personal information). The reasons why that exemption applies are that: • The Cabinet Office is satisfied that the information amounts to personal data of which you are not the data subject; and • The Cabinet Office is satisfied that disclosure of the information would contravene one of the data protection principles as set out at Article 5 of the General Data Protection Regulation as it applies in the Isle of Man pursuant to the Data Protection (Application of GDPR) Order 2018, namely that the Cabinet Office can only disclose the information where it would be fair, lawful and meet one of the conditions for lawful processing in Article 6 and in this case, none of those conditions have been met. Please quote the reference number 2202062 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

Isle of Man FOI Wiki — 5,481 Freedom of Information requests, 2017–2026