New 20mph limit

Summary

The request sought confirmation on which areas had purchased 20mph speed limit signage and the specific costs incurred. The Department of Infrastructure confirmed signage was purchased for Port St Mary, Douglas, and Onchan, but withheld specific costs citing commercial interests, while providing overall project estimates.

Key Facts

• Signage for the proposed 20mph speed limit has been purchased for Port St Mary, Douglas, and Onchan.
• Specific costs to taxpayers were withheld under section 30(2)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015.
• The exemption was applied to protect the commercial interests of suppliers and future procurement negotiations.
• The overall estimated cost of the 20mph speed limit project is approximately £400,000.
• The estimated cost allocated specifically to Douglas and Onchan is £136,000.

Data Disclosed

• 2025-04-01
• 2025-04-15
• 4547893
• £400,000
• £136,000
• section 30(2)(b)

Exemptions Cited

• Section 30(2)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (Commercial interests)

Original Request

Can you please confirm the if the signage for the proposed /forced 20mph speed limit , has already been purchased for any areas other than Port St Mary and what the cost to taxpayers has already been spent

Data Tables (1)

Data Tables (reformatted)

Full Response Text

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

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

Our ref: 4547893 14 April 2025

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 1 April 2025, which states:

"Can you please confirm the if the signage for the proposed /forced 20mph speed limit , has already been purchased for any areas other than Port St Mary and what the cost to taxpayers has already been spent"

Our response to your request is as follows: I have detailed below the information.

We can confirm that signage for the proposed 20mph speed limit has already been purchased for Port St Mary, Douglas, and Onchan.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the information is exempt from disclosure under section 30(2)(b) of the Act as disclosure WOULD LIKELY prejudice the commercial interests of person (including the Department of Infrastructure). • Disclosure of the specific costs could reveal sensitive pricing structures of the supplier, which are not otherwise public.
• Releasing this level of detail could disadvantage the vendor in future procurement exercises by exposing commercially negotiated rates to competitors.
• It could also reduce the effectiveness of future negotiations by public authorities if suppliers are aware of previous pricing arrangements As section 30 is a qualified exemption, it is subject to a public interest test. The public interest must be something that is of serious concern and benefit to the public at large.

Factors in favour of disclosure • Promotes transparency in the use of public funds.
• Enables public scrutiny of government expenditure.
• Enhances trust and accountability in public procurement.

Factors in favour of withholding • Protects the commercial interests and competitive position of vendors engaged in providing services to the government.
• Ensures value for money in future procurement by maintaining fair competition. • Avoids setting a precedent that could undermine future contract negotiations or discourage vendors from bidding.

In taking these factors into account the Department of Infrastructure determined that the factors in favour of maintaining the exemption outweigh the factors in favour of disclosing the information.

However, to assist and provide context, we can advise that the overall estimated cost of the 20mph speed limit project is approximately £400,000, of which the estimated cost allocated to Douglas and Onchan is £136,000.

Please quote the reference number 4547893 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.