Publication - FOI/EIR release

Road mitigation measures for wildlife in Scotland: FOI release

Published: 20 July 2017
Topic: Public sector, Transport

Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

FOI reference: FOI/17/01126
Date received: 15 May 2017
Date responded: 3 July 2017

Information requested

"I am doing a research project at Cardiff University for Project Splatter and I am trying to build a database of all the road mitigation measures that are in place for wildlife across the UK.

Is there a way of accessing a list of all the measures in place in Scotland."

To which you updated your request on 12 June to:

"I am doing a research project at Cardiff University and wish to access information on road mitigation measures for wildlife in Scotland. I have already made a request but would like to retract it as I did not make it clear which information I was after.

If possible I would like information on the date and location (e.g. grid reference) of the given mitigation; specifically:

Overpasses e.g. green bridges, bat bridges

Underpasses e.g. mammal/amphibian tunnels, otter ledges

Plus, if it is not too much work the same information on 'Wildlife barriers' e.g. fencing."

Response

As the information you have requested is 'environmental information' for the purposes of the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIR's), we are required to deal with your request under those Regulations. We are applying the exemption at section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA), so that we do not also have to deal with your request under FOISA.

As you may be aware, Transport Scotland has contracts in place with Operating Companies to maintain the trunk road network. It is the responsibility of the Operating Companies throughout Scotland to inspect wildlife mitigation measures on the network in accordance with our contracts. A link to these contracts is below:

https://www.transport.gov.scot/transport-network/roads/the-trunk-road-network/#

Please refer to Annex A for information held in relation to South West Scotland. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Transport Scotland does not have some of the information you have requested. Therefore we are refusing your request under the exception at regulation 10(4)(a) of the EIRs. The dates of installation are not available for the SW.

Please refer to Annex B and C for information held in relation to South East Scotland.

Please refer to Annex D for information held in relation to North West Scotland.

Please refer to Annex E for information held in relation to North East Scotland.

In addition to Transport Scotland's Operating Company contracts, there are other parts of the motorway and trunk road network that are managed and operated by other agents as detailed below.

Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and M8 M73 and M74 Motorway Improvements

For AWPR/B-T and M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements, all wildlife mitigation measures are available in the Environmental Statements, available at the following links:

https://www.transport.gov.scot/projects/m8-m73-m74-motorway-improvements/document-library/

https://www.transport.gov.scot/projects/aberdeen-western-peripheral-route-balmedie-to-tipperty/document-library/

M77/GSO Design Build Finance and Operate (DBFO)

The M77/GSO DBFO project was constructed with wildlife mitigation measures in place. These mitigation measures are that any structure crossing a watser course contains a mammal ledge to ensure safe passage. A number of dry pipes were also installed to facilitate wildlife crossing the M77 and Glasgow Southern Orbital. In addition mammal fencing was installed at appropriate points throughout this part of the network. All mitigations were installed during construction of the M77/GSO DBFO project between 2003 and 2005.

As built drawing are available at Annex F.

M80 DFBO Stepps to Haggs

Wildlife mitigation measures were incorporated extensively in the design and implementation of the M80 Stepps to Haggs DBFO, with mammal ledges in place along the larger culverts across the network, mammal tunnels in place at two locations, and deer fencing along with newt and mammal mesh in place across most of the network.

Please refer to Annex G for further information.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses