Freedom of Information Request – Motorhome/campervan fire safety - Knockan Crag NNR
Date: 22 August 2024
Our ref: SIR176470/A4688501
Information Request – Motorhome/campervan fire safety - Knockan Crag NNR
Thank you for your information request, which we received on 26 July 2024. We have considered your request under the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (‘the EIRs’).
Your Request
As Naturescot allows the overnight habitation of motorcaravans at their site at Knockan Crag, what fire safety separation distances are applied, and how are they enforced?
Our Response
Following discussion with our relevant colleagues our response is below.
What fire safety separation distances are applied
As part of NatureScot’s recently launched Stay for a Night campaign we have suggested 8 campers or motorhomes and a minimum separation distance of 4m at Knockan Crag NNR - this is for fire safety. Further information is attached and available from our NNR FAQs website.
How are they enforced
Responsibility for fire safety rests with the individual motorhome/campervan owner/driver. We do not have a daily staff presence at Knockan Crag NNR. As a result, we do not enforce separation distances between motorhomes or any other standards set out in the Stay for a Night approach as we are unable to do so consistently. When present, Reserve staff will speak to motorhomes/ campervans, but we do not request that motorhomes move if they are parked too close together.
Our NNRs are also not formal campsites or campervan parks, only car parks where overnighting is tolerated.
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 wihtin 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 [email protected]
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).
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