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You are in: Access information » Environmental » Make a request

Make a request

Environmental information held by Stirling Council

Because the definition of "environmental information" is so wide, a lot information held by Stirling Council may fall under Environmental Information Regulations. For example, we hold information relating to land and buildings in the Stirling Council area. The Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 provide a public right of access to this information.

How to make a request for environmental information

Make a request for environmental information in the same way as you would make a request for any other information held by the Council.  Your request does not need to be in writing, although it would be helpful if you could provide as many details as possible to help us find the information.

Please include the following details in your request:

  • details of the information you are looking for.  You do not need to explain why you want to see the information, but by including as many details as possible, it might help us locate the information quickly.
  • if you prefer to receive the information in a particular format. We will try to deliver the information in this way, although it may not be possible in all cases.
  • your name and address.  This is so that we can contact you with any queries about your request, and provide the information to you.

We have provided a form to help you make your request for information.  You can download the form here.

Once you have completed the form, send it to Stirling Council by post or email, or hand it in any any council office or any member of staff.  Please send your request to , Information Compliance Officer, Stirling Council, Viewforth Stirling FK8 2ET.  Tel: 01786 442926.  Email

What will happen when we receive your request

We must reply to you within 20 working days of receiving your request. We will contact you within this time if we need further detail to help us locate the information. If your request is particuarly complex, it may take us up to 40 working days to actually provide the information.  However, if this is the case, we will tell you when we first reply to you.

If we do not hold the information, but know that another public authority does, we will let you know that we have transferred your request to them.  

Please note that what you think might be a request for environmental information may actually fall under Freedom of Information, Data Protection Act or some other access legislation.  If we think this is the case, we will let you know, and explain to you how this might change our response to your request.

Considering your request

A designated person within the relevant council service will consider your request for information, if necessary with advice from the Information Compliance Officer.  

We aim to make as much information available as possible. However, we may sometimes have a good reason for not disclosing information where it would actually endanger the environment, for example by disclosing the nesting location of a rare bird species.  The environmental information regulations contain a number of exemptions which allow public authorities to withhold information in certain circumstances.  There is more about exemptions on these pages.

If we propose to withhold any information, we will explain why we think an exemption applies.  You have the right to appeal about any information which is being withheld from you.

Charging for information

The regulations allow public authorities to charge a reasonable fee for providing information, although an authority cannot charge an applicant for inspecting the information in person, and certain public registers must also be available for inspection free of charge.

It is Stirling Council's policy not to charge for answering requests for information.  However, we reserve the right to charge a fee (for example if your request involves a lot of time and money to answer and would be above the "upper threshold" set out in FOI Fees Regulations).  If we plan to charge a fee for answering your request, we will tell you what the fee will be before we provide the information.  We will not provide the information until any "fees notice" is paid.

Answering your request

We must answer your request for information within 20 working days (or 40 working days in certain cases). Our reply to you will give you further details of your right to appeal.