Transport Scotland - details and cost of newly-implemented 20mph signage: EIR release

Information requested

-The total cost of implementing 20mph signage in Moray
-The total number of new signs installed, and any signs removed or replaced
-The specific cost of installing signage on the A95 at Aberlour and Craigellachie, and on the A96 at Elgin and Keith
-Details of any funding or resources allocated for enforcement of the new speed limits

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.

To aid my response I have separated the questions and answered in the order they have been asked:

Q1. The total cost of implementing 20mph signage in Moray.
A1. £34,677.05

Q2. The total number of new signs installed, and any signs removed or replaced.
A2. 92 new sign faces installed in total, including replacement and repeater signs. 19 new posts and 13 solar lights.

Q3. The specific cost of installing signage on the A95 at Aberlour and Craigellachie,
A3. Aberlour £9,856.77 and Craigellachie £8,033.41

Q4. and on the A96 at Elgin and Keith.
A4. Elgin £6,799.92 and Keith £9,984.95

Q5. Details of any funding or resources allocated for enforcement of the new speed limits.
A5. 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. Transport Scotland does not have the information you have requested because enforcement of speed limits is a matter for Police Scotland, which operates independently from Scottish Ministers.

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 that there may be some public interest in information about details of any funding or resources allocated for enforcement of the new speed limits, 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 https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.