The Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR) came into force on 1 January 2005 and provides members of the public the right to access environmental information held by public authorities, including Walsall Council.

The regulations cover information held by the authority on

• the state of elements of the environment; i.e. land, water, air, flora or fauna
• the state of human health and safety, conditions of human life, the food chain
• activities which adversely affect the environment  such as noise, emissions, radiation or waste
• measures which are designed to protect the environment

This also includes plans, programmes, cost-benefit and other economic analyses which relate to environmental information.  Other information held by the council such as information relating to road, traffic, maintenance, land use planning, development control, buildings and estates is also considered to be environmental information.

• The information request can be made over the telephone and does not need to be put in writing
• The regulations apply to information held in any format
• The timescale for responses is 20 working days
• The council can make charges within reason for supplying information under EIR please see Information Requests - fees and charges
• The council does not have to provide information which is already publicly available
• There are some exceptions (exemptions) where information that is held by the council may not be released - in such cases, a reason has to be given why the information is not being released

Requests for information under the Environmental Information Regulations should be made to:

Freedom of Information Officer
Customer Focus and Intelligence
Corporate Performance Management
Civic Centre
Darwall Street
Walsall
WS1 1TP

Telephone 01922 650000
Fax 01922 614210
Email foi@walsall.gov.uk

This page was last updated on 05 December 2011