Arran Ferry Ardrossan harbour report: EIR release

Information requested

The most recent Arran Ferry, Ardrossan Harbour report which recommended the Troon Harbour option. Would you also send me the recent Arran residents survey which was carried out with the details of the methodology.

Response

Under regulation 6(1)(b) of the EIRs, we do not have to give you information which is already publicly available and easily accessible to you in another form or format.

Attached is the link to the Ardrossan Task Force Meeting minutes of December 2020 which outlines the rationale used to undertake the Analysis paper and Community Survey.
https://www.transport.gov.scot/media/49001/ardrossan-task-force-meeting-16-december-2020-no-11-meeting-note-final-19-january-2021.pdf

All previous and subsequent minutes are published on Transport Scotland’s website
Ardrossan Harbour Task Force (transport.gov.scot)

As requested, attached is a copy of the Analysis paper commissioned by the Task Force, and the Community Survey paper including results.

Some sections of the information provided has been restricted under exceptions 10(4)(d) and 10 (5) (e). The reasons for not providing information is outlined in Annex A.

ANNEX A
REASONS FOR NOT PROVIDING INFORMATION

Regulation 10(4)(d) - material in the course of completion, unfinished documents or incomplete data. An exception under 10(4)(d) of the EIRs (material in the course of completion)
applies to the information you requested.

This exception applies because to release the information at this stage would not demonstrate a conclusive policy outcome. This exception is subject to the 'public interest test'. Therefore, taking
account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exception. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exception. We recognise that there is some public interest in release as part of open, transparent and accountable government. However, this is outweighed by the strong public interest in maintaining the right to reach a conclusive policy outcome which is still on-going before the full detail included in official documents are released.

Regulation 10(5)(e) - Confidentiality of commercial or industrial information – An exception under 10 (5)(e) of the EIR’s (confidentiality of commercial or industrial information) applies to the information you requested.

The exception applies as some of the information is commercially sensitive and release could compromise our collective ability to reach an agreed policy position. Therefore, taking account of all
the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exception. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exception. We recognise that there is some public interest in release as part of open, transparent and accountable government. However, this is outweighed by the strong public interest in maintaining the right to restrict commercially sensitive information.

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FOI202100163580 - Information released

File type

36 page PDF

File size

3.6 MB