Raggat

Summary

The requester asked for the cost of demolishing Glenfaba House at The Raggat and whether the site remained empty due to objections from Knockaloe Beg. The authority disclosed the demolition cost but refused to answer the second part, citing it as a rhetorical question and noting that the reasons were already available in public press coverage.

Key Facts

• The demolition of Glenfaba House occurred in March/April 2019.
• The total cost for demolition and additional works was £31,900.
• The authority declined to answer the question regarding Knockaloe Beg objections, labeling it rhetorical.
• The authority stated that information regarding the demolition reasons was already reasonably accessible via press statements.
• The request was processed under the Freedom of Information Act 2015.

Data Disclosed

• £31,900
• March/April 2019
• 2022-05-04
• 2022-05-17
• 2426273

Exemptions Cited

• Section 20 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (Information already reasonably accessible)

Original Request

How much was spent knocking down the house at The Raggat only to leave the site sat empty. Was this due to Knockaloe Beg putting in an objection?

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: 2426273 17 May 2022

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 4 May 2022 and which states:

"How much was spent knocking down the house at The Raggat only to leave the site sat empty. Was this due to Knockaloe Beg putting in an objection?"

Our response to your request is as follows: For the first part of your request, we can confirm the Glenfaba House demolition in March/April 2019 cost £31,900, please note that this figure does also include additional works carried out at the site.
The second part of your request appears to be a rhetorical question. We advise that
for any future request (and the framing/wording of that request) you to bear to mind the purpose of the FOI Act in that each information request should be for information that is likely to be held by Manx Utilities, that promotes a wider public interest and is balanced with value for the taxpayer. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, under section 20 of the Act, we are not required to provide information in response to a request if it is already reasonably accessible to you, whether free of charge or on payment of a fee. Manx Utilities issued a number of statements to the press at the time of the demolition that adequately explained the position. The press coverage can be found here: https://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/planning/historic-house-is-demolished-227578 https://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/mansion-built-for-mhk-to-be-bulldozed-226341 There is also a large amount of information already in the public domain regarding the Regional Sewage Treatment Works proposal for Peel, and its progress. For the latest two-weekly updates, and older news articles please go to the Manx Utilities website: https://www.manxutilities.im/about-us/our-assets/sewerage/sewage-treatment- strategy-phase-2/ https://www.manxutilities.im/news/2020/dec/regional-sewage-treatment-is-the-way- forward/ Further helpful historic reference detail can be found in a previous FOI response here:
https://iom.icasework.com/servlet/servlets.getImg?ref=D691185&bin=Y&auth=0&db=

ZVD1ZPdIGvo%3D&access_token=p06sV86yXsdhIGFUXUbdqKPsmS744Kv6gfqhoB7bL 62WiGvwS4mb_uKstBk6rMzL.QdXTtWdkDKP7I80I_w9-nA%3D%3D

Please quote the reference number 2426273 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.