Road closure application supporting documents

Summary

A request was made for supporting documents regarding road closures for the Isle of Man Festival of Motoring for 2024 and 2025, but the Department of Infrastructure refused to disclose any information.

Key Facts

• The request covered documents such as risk assessments, event management plans, and marshals briefings for the Festival of Motoring.
• The Department of Infrastructure held the information but refused to release it.
• The refusal was based on the argument that disclosure would prejudice commercial interests.
• The public interest test concluded that maintaining the exemption outweighed the benefits of transparency.
• The applicant was informed of their right to request an internal review or appeal to the Information Commissioner.

Data Disclosed

• 4935210
• 2025-09-16
• 2025-10-30
• 2024
• 2025
• section 30(2)(b)
• Freedom of Information Act 2015

Exemptions Cited

• Section 30(2)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (Prejudice to commercial interests)

Original Request

I a looking to obtain the below listed document so a comparison can be made. These documents are in relation to The Isle of Man Festival of Motoring for the years 2024 and 2025. These documents are understood have been circulated widely within Government . The list for each of the two years is the same - Road Closure Application Event Management Plan (or similar document) Risk assessments for all locations and parts of the event Notice to residents for all road closures Road closing process All maps and signage plans Marshals briefing Contravention of rules policy and process Incident response Marshals briefing Roles and positions document Drivers disclaimer

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: 4935210 29 October 2025

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 16 September 2025, which states:

"I a looking to obtain the below listed document so a comparison can be made.

These documents are in relation to The Isle of Man Festival of Motoring for the years 2024 and 2025. These documents are understood have been circulated widely within Government .

The list for each of the two years is the same -

Road Closure Application

Event Management Plan (or similar document)

Risk assessments for all locations and parts of the event

Notice to residents for all road closures

Road closing process

All maps and signage plans

Marshals briefing

Contravention of rules policy and process

Incident response

Marshals briefing

Roles and positions document

Drivers disclaimer"

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 be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of person (including the Department of Infrastructure.)

As section 30(2)(b) 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 decision making. • Supports fair competition and informed public debate.

Factors in favour of withholding • Disclosure could reveal pricing models, strategies, or proprietary methods that competitors could exploit. • Sensitive commercial information might be misinterpreted or used out of context, harming the company's public image. • Companies may be less willing to share sensitive information with public authorities in future, reducing transparency and cooperation. • Disclosure could lead to loss of business, market share, or investor confidence.

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 4935210 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.