Request ID: FOI-0473-2425 Date published: 31 May 2024
You asked
In order to install ULEZ cameras (which are not attached to traffic lights) in Expanded Zone, TFL or their contractors have to install a new feeder pillar (power cabinet) and Pole Foundation to allow the later fixture of a camera.
TFL/yunex have to apply to local councils for permits to dig the street, for both feeder pillar and pole foundations. Since August 2023, there have been numerous occasions when contractors have arrived on site only to find peaceful protesters at the location, and so the works are cancelled each time.
Since these are all peaceful protests, I cannot see any logical reason to deny the information on the basis of "encouraging illegal acts" or similar excuse.
Since locations were already public knowledge because protesters were watching and waiting, there is no logical reason to withold location data in relation to these.
Having reviewed the permits requested under the scheme, it is clear that TFL have sometimes deliberately tried to obscure the nature of the works by calling them "underground ducting", “repair of asset" or similar.
How many occasions have install or repair works been cancelled since aug23 to current date due to protesters on site.
If possible please provide analysis by Borough.
If possible please provide date of job cancellation.
Please provide list of addresses, permit numbers and description if possible for each.
We answered
Our ref: FOI-0473-2425/GH
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 9 May 2024 asking for information about ULEZ infrastructure installation.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations and TfL’s information access policy. I can confirm TfL does hold some of the information you require.
However, given the extent of the information you are looking for, we are applying Regulation 12(4)(b) as we believe that the request is ‘manifestly unreasonable’ because providing the information you have requested would impose unreasonable costs on us and require an unreasonable diversion of resources.
You have requested ‘How many occasions have install or repair works been cancelled since aug23 to current date due to protesters on site’. To answer your current request would take an excessive amount of staff time and resources. We do not hold a complete information of all incidents of abortive works of this nature. Records are held by TfL, our contractors, their sub-contractors and our security providers. Therefore, in order to answer your request we would need all parties to search their records and cross reference any incident of abortive works with the approved permit number given. In addition to this, given the nature of the request and the circumstances around it, it will be necessary to dedicate limited and specialist resource to considering in depth the potential application of one or more exceptions which would further increase the burden of processing this request in full.
The use of this exception is subject to a public interest test, which requires us to consider whether the public interest in applying the exception outweighs the public interest in disclosure. We recognise that the release of information would promote accountability and transparency in public services and also help address your particular concerns about this issue. However, the time it would take to provide the information you have requested would divert a disproportionate amount of our resources from its core functions and on balance we consider that the public interest currently favours the use of the exception.
We will consider your request again, if you are able to narrow its scope so that we can more easily locate, retrieve and extract the information you are seeking, noting that we would likely need to consider whether one or more exceptions from disclosure apply to the requested information.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Graham Hurt FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
