FOI request (FOIR-817908720)

Bexhill Road Retail Park Safety

Requested Wed 25 March 2026
Responded Mon 18 May 2026

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Response

Please accept my apologies for the delay in responding. 

I am submitting the following request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Please provide:

1. Traffic Management Assessment

 

NOTICE OF REFUSAL

The information you have requested is commercially sensitive and falls under Section 43 of the Freedom of Information Act – Commercially Sensitive Information

Information prejudicing commercial interests – commercial interest relating to an organisations commercial activity and may include trading activity procurement and relationships with third parties.

 

The exemption afforded by Section 43 is subject to what is known as the ‘public interest test’.  When applying the test in a particular case a public authority is deciding whether the public interest is better served by non-disclosure than by disclosure. 

 

Although the Freedom of Information Act does not define ‘in the public interest’, there is a presumption under Freedom of Information that openness is in the public interest.  In applying the public interest test a public authority will take into account the distinction that has been often made by courts between things that are in the public interest, and things that merely interest the public.  Where applicants have not identified public interest considerations succinctly or accurately, the public authority has a responsibility under the Act to make their own assessment of the public interest considerations in the particular case.

 

We have identified the following public interest factors that may be seen as encouraging the disclosure of information:

 

a)    accountability of public spending

 

We consider these factors to be of limited relevance in relation to the information in question.

 

Public interest factors seen as encouraging non-disclosure are, generally, the exemptions themselves.   In consideration of this matter we came to the following conclusions:

a) The report was commissioned by and written for and on behalf of a third party

b) The report is an internal advisory document containing professional opinions and options, disclosure could discourage candid advice in future reports

c)  Ensuring that companies are able to compete for business fairly

d)  Damage to reputation and/or financial interests

In weighing the factors for and against disclosure we have concluded that the likely benefit to the applicant and the wider public of disclosure is outweighed by the likely prejudice caused by such disclosure and that therefore the public interest is better served by non-disclosure. 

 

For the reasons given above we will not be communicating to you the information you have requested.

Date conducted 17 February 2026

2. Risk Assessments All health and safety risk assessments relating to the car park

Answer: Information not held

Any pedestrian safety assessments

Answer: Information not held

3. Accessibility Reviews Any Equality Act / DDA accessibility audits

Answer: Information not held

Findings and recommendations

Answer: Information not held

4. Site Inspections Records of inspections relating to safety and access

Answer: Information not held

Dates and outcomes

Answer: Information not held

5. Complaints and Incidents Number of complaints received regarding safety or access

Answer: 6

Records of incidents or near misses

Answer: Information not held

6. Investment and Works Details of any upgrades or safety improvements made Additional signage has been installed Dates and nature of works

Answer: Information not held

7. Parking Enforcement Details of enforcement arrangements

Answer: Our holds the contract with the parking enforcement company

Any relevant contracts or agreements

Answer: Information not held