Public Feedback on 20mph Speed Limit

Summary

The requester asked for a breakdown of public feedback on proposed 20mph speed limits, but the Department of Infrastructure only disclosed the total number of submissions received. The detailed analysis and sentiment breakdown were withheld under Section 41 of the FOI Act 2015 as the consultation analysis was still ongoing.

Key Facts

• The Department of Infrastructure received 771 emails and written submissions regarding the 20mph speed limit campaign.
• The consultation for the All Island 20mph speed limits closed on 21 March 2025.
• A separate consultation for Douglas and Onchan was ongoing and scheduled to close on 4 July 2025.
• The detailed breakdown of responses (in favour, opposed, neutral) was withheld because the analysis was incomplete.
• The full collation and analysis of submissions are anticipated to be published in quarter three of 2025.

Data Disclosed

• 771
• 21 March 2025
• 4 July 2025
• quarter three of 2025
• Section 41
• 20mph

Exemptions Cited

• Section 41 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (Information exempt from disclosure due to ongoing analysis and public interest test)

Original Request

I am requesting the following information under the Isle of Man Freedom of Information Act 2015, relating to the recent public feedback campaign regarding the proposed 20mph speed limits, for which the public were invited to submit views by email. This consultation closed on or around 21st March 2025. Please provide: - The total number of emails or written submissions received by the Department of Infrastructure as part of this campaign. A breakdown of how many of these responses were: - In favour of the proposed 20mph speed limits, - Opposed to the proposed speed limits, - Neutral or not expressing a clear view. Any internal summary, statistical breakdown, or preliminary analysis that has been compiled from these responses, even if a full public report has not yet been published. If any of this information is already available elsewhere, please advise where it can be accessed.

Data Tables (1)

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: 4685217 1 July 2025

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 23 May 2025, which states:

"I am requesting the following information under the Isle of Man Freedom of Information Act 2015, relating to the recent public feedback campaign regarding the proposed 20mph speed limits, for which the public were invited to submit views by email. This consultation closed on or around 21st March 2025.

Please provide:

• The total number of emails or written submissions received by the Department of Infrastructure as part of this campaign.

A breakdown of how many of these responses were:

• In favour of the proposed 20mph speed limits,

• Opposed to the proposed speed limits,

• Neutral or not expressing a clear view.

Any internal summary, statistical breakdown, or preliminary analysis that has been compiled from these responses, even if a full public report has not yet been published.

If any of this information is already available elsewhere, please advise where it can be accessed."

Our response to your request is as follows:

The Department of Infrastructure received a total of 771 emails and written submissions, in relation to the public feedback campaign, which closed on the 21st March 2025.

However, while our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the remaining information is exempt from disclosure under section 41 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 as The Department is still undertaking the analysis of the consultation submissions for both the All Island 20mph Consultation which closed in March 2025 and the ongoing Douglas and Onchan consultation which is to close on 4th

July 2025. It is anticipated that the collation and analysis of the submissions for both consultations will be completed and made publicly available in quarter three of 2025.

As section 41 is a qualified exemption, it is subject to a public interest test. The public interest must be of serious concern and benefit to the public at large.

Factors in favour of disclosure • Timing. Where the disclosure timetable is in the distance or contingent or indeterminate. • Making the information available sooner might allow for informed public debate and participation, particularly if the subject is of current relevance or controversy
• If the information relates to public spending, healthcare, safety, or environmental issues, early release may be in the public interest.

Factors in favour of withholding • The public authority may need time to properly prepare, finalise, and contextualise the information for publication (e.g. redactions, formatting, explanatory notes).
• Releasing information prematurely could disrupt normal operations or divert resources away from planned publication efforts.
• Incomplete or draft material might lead to misinterpretation or premature conclusions if released out of context.
• Early disclosure may interfere with ongoing policy or decision-making processes, especially if the information forms part of a developing project. • Potential damage to commercial interests.
• Disclosure would undermine consultation or pre-publication disclosure with particular persons.

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.

Please quote the reference number 4685217 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.