Freedom of Information Request - Calton Hill
Date: 15 August 2025
Our ref: SIR181025/A5339109
Information Request – Calton Hill
Your Request
Our request is for copies of all consents, memoranda, agreements or management plans, relating either to Arthur’s Seat Volcano Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in general, or specifically to the Calton Hill part of the SSSI, between NatureScot (or Scottish Natural Heritage) and the City of Edinburgh Council, from 2011 until the present day.
Your Clarified Request – Verbally with the Operations Officer for the area/site
It was also helpful to discuss the scope of the FOI request, which you have clarified as being focussed just on the Carlton Hill area of the SSSI and not including Arthur’s Seat.
Our Response
We have found some documents that meet the terms of your clarified information request. A copy of these documents is attached separately.
We have removed any personal data from the information being released to you, because releasing information in response to an information request would breach the Data Protection Act 2018, so we have applied an exemption under the EIRs, of 11(2) (Personal Data) to this information.
If you want to discuss anything further about the area/site, the Operations Officer who contacted you to clarify your request, would be willing to discuss any other issues or topics you may have, please use the email address that was provided to you.
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
