Freedom of Information Request - Badger Ecologist All Operations- Licence 250769
Date: 31 March 2025
Our ref: SIR179310/A5057908
Information Request – Badger Ecologist All Operations- Licence 250769
Your Request
all documentation held by NatureScot regarding the work carried out and badger protection plans put in place for the grounds of Dykebar Hospital, Grahamston Road, Paisley. I believe that the Badger ecologist for the developer onsite has an All Operations Licence 250769.
I would like to see copies of the following documentation from 1 March 2024 to present:
- correspondence and emails regarding badger surveys, licencing and works
- badger survey reports
- badger protection plans
- annual returns submitted
- any other relevant documentation
I understand that as a protected species you cannot release details of the locations of badger setts and that redaction will be required.
Our Response
Following a review of the information we hold, covering the period from 01 March 2024 to the present, our response is attached separately.
Our policy is to not to make locations of badger setts publicly available. As release of information under the EIRs is equivalent to release into the public domain, we do not believe it is in the public interest to release information that might enable disturbance to the badgers. We have therefore redacted some information that would identify the locations of badger setts, applying EIRs Regulation 10(5)(g) (Protection of the environment) to this information.
We have marked out (redacted) personal data in the documents provided. Releasing personal data into the public domain in response to an access to information request would breach the Data Protection Act 2018. We are therefore withholding this information under EIRs Regulation 11(2) (Personal Data). We have also redacted out information that is not relevant to your request.
How We Handled Your Request
We believe you have asked for environmental information as defined in the Environmental Information (Scotland Regulations 2004 (‘the EIRs’), so we are dealing with your request under those regulations. To be able to use the EIRs, we must apply an exemption under section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (‘FOISA’). The Scottish Information Commissioner’s guidance recommends that public authorities apply this exemption to environmental information and handle request under the EIRs.
If you would like to find out more about the access to information legislation, there is a guidance booklet available on the Scottish Information Commissioner’s website.
Review and Appeal
I hope this information meets your requirements, but if you are dissatisfied with how we have responded to your information request, please write to us within 40 working days explaining your concerns. You can contact us at Battleby, Redgorton, Perth, PH1 3EW or email us at [email protected]. We will carry out a review of our response and contact you with our findings within 20 working days.
If you are not satisfied following this, you can make an appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner within 6 months. The Scottish Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle
Doubledykes Road
St Andrews
Fife
KY16 9DS
Telephone: 01334 464610
Yours sincerely
FOI Officer,
NatureScot
Document downloads
Due to accessibility issues the attached information, referenced above, is available on request by contacting the FOI team at [email protected]. Please reference the case number (starting with SIR).
