Environmental Information Regulations
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 we hold on:
- the state of elements of the environment (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 us (such as information relating to road, traffic, maintenance, land use planning, development control, buildings and estates) is also considered to be environmental information.
Making an EIR request
You can make an information request by phone or in writing. The regulations apply to information held in any format.
The timescale for responses is 20 working days, unless the request is complex. In this case, we may extend our response time to up to 40 working days.
We can make charges within reason for supplying information under EIR. You will be advised of these charges should they apply.
We do not have have to provide information which is already publicly available. There are some exceptions (exemptions) where information that we hold may not be released. In such cases, we will give you a reason within the timescales above.
Contact us to make a request for information under the Environmental Information Regulations.
