Freedom of Information Request - Installation or repair of steps to access Oldmoreshore Beach
Date: 17 February 2025
Our ref: SIR178843/A4998956
Information Request – Installation or repair of steps to access Oldmoreshore Beach
Your Request
“all correspondence and information held by NatureScot over the past five years regarding the installation or repair of steps to access Oldshoremore Beach, IV27.
Specifically, I request:
1. Copies of all internal and external correspondence (including emails, letters, and meeting notes) related to any proposal or plans or requests regarding the existing or new steps to access Oldshoremore Beach.
2. Any reports, assessments, or feasibility studies conducted regarding the installation of these steps.
3. Any correspondence with third parties, including local authorities, community groups, contractors, or other stakeholders such at Netflix, on this matter.
4. Any documentation on funding, planning permissions, or environmental considerations relating to the installation of these steps.”
Our Response
We have searched the information that we hold concerning the steps at Oldshoremore Beach for the past five years.
We have also discussed your request with the Operations Team who deal with the site, and we must inform you that NatureScot is not responsible for the maintenance, repair or construction of the steps. Our role in relation to these steps extends to providing advice on the national and internationally important protected areas that are present at Oldshoremore.
We have offered to provide advice on the repair or replacement of the steps to other parties and are waiting for them to contact us with their proposed changes. Once that happens, we will be happy to provide detailed advice.
Copies of the documents that meet the terms of your request are provided as a separate document to this response.
We have redacted out personal information, because releasing personal information into the public domain in response to an information request would breach the Data Protection Act 2018. We are therefore withholding the names of the individuals under EIRs regulation 11(2) – Personal Data.
We have also redacted out information on otter holts, bat roosts and voles, as to release this information into the public domain could lead to these animals being harassed and breeding areas destroyed. We have therefore withheld this information under 10(5)(g) (Sensitive Species)
We have also redacted out some information as it was out-with the scope of the request as it dealt with other topics e.g. grazing.
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).
