The Glasgow & Edinburgh road - roundabout leading to A8(M): EIR release

Information requested

• The original plans for the Glasgow & Edinburgh road - roundabout leading to A8(M)
• Any changes deviating from the original plan
• Reasons for changes, if any
• Who owns the land at the back of Rhinds Crescent - old Edinburgh Road?

Response

As the information you have requested is ‘environmental information’ for the purposes of the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIRs), we are required to deal with your request under those Regulations.

We are applying the exemption at section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA), so that we do not also have to deal with your request under FOISA.

This exemption 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 exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption, because there is no public interest in dealing with the same request under two different regimes. This is essentially a technical point and has no material effect on the outcome of your request.

Please find below our response to the information you have requested, with reference to the points noted in your email.

The original plans for the Glasgow & Edinburgh road - roundabout leading to A8(M)

Transport Scotland published the preferred plans and profile in 2007, as part of the M8 Baillieston to Newhouse Environmental Statement, which is available on Transport Scotland’s website at the following link: https://www.transport.gov.scot/projects/m8-m73-m74-motorway-improvements/document-library/

The specific drawing to the location you requested can be located at the following link: www.transport.gov.scot/media/2741/fig-31a-rev-a.pdf

Under regulation 6(1)(b) of the EIRs, we do not have to supply you information which is already publicly available and easily accessible to you in another form or format. If, however, you are unable to access this information from the website listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

Any changes deviating from the original plan

Scottish Roads Partnership (SRP) is responsible for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the M8 M73 M74 Improvements project on behalf of the Scottish Ministers. SRP has confirmed that its final design and construction of the project contain no material changes to the original plans shown on Transport Scotland’s website as referenced above.

Reasons for changes, if any

Not applicable.

Who owns the land at the back of Rhinds Crescent – old Edinburgh Road?

In regards to your request for confirmation of the ownership of the area at the back of Rhinds Cresent, while our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Transport Scotland does not have the information you have requested. Therefore we are refusing your request as an exception of the EIRs applies under regulation 10(4)(a).

Under the terms of the exception at regulation 10(4)(a) of the EIRs (information not held), Transport Scotland is not required to provide information which it does not have.

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. While we recognise there may be some public interest in ownership of land we cannot provide information which we do not hold.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.