Freedom of Information

Anyone can make a Freedom of Information request to Transport for Wales. However, you must provide your full legal name and a contact address (this may be an email address) for the request to be valid.

• Everyone has a right to access official information

•  Each request must be processed in favour of disclosure (this is referred to as 'assumption in favour of disclosure') unless the information in question is covered a stated exemption of the Act

• Applicants do not need to provide a reason for requesting information

• Each request must be treated equally, unless vexatious

• You can make a request in Welsh. This will not lead to a delay in responding

A Freedom of Information request must be submitted in writing.

Please be sure to check our Publication Scheme, disclosure log, transparency page and projects page in case the information you require is already readily available.

If it is not, please email us at: freedomofinformation@tfw.wales

Alternatively, you can write to:
Freedom of Information Officer
Transport for Wales
3 Llys Cadwyn
Pontypridd
Rhondda Cynon Taf
CF37 4TH

• Do provide your full legal name and a contact address (this may be an email address).

• Do provide a clear description of the information you require, using straightforward language.

• Do send your request directly to the Freedom of Information team using the contact details above.

• Do state clearly that you are making a request under the Freedom of Information Act.

• Don't utilise the Freedom of Information process as a means to make a customer complaint or raise a concern. Instead, please contact our Customer Relations Team here.

• Don't make overarching requests for 'all' information relating to a particular matter. Instead, please be sure to specify exactly what recorded information you require.

• Don't 'fish' for potential commercial opportunities. All information relating to Transport for Wales' procurement activity can be found here.

• Don't make repeat requests unless circumstances have changed.

Upon receipt of your request, we’ll respond to your request within 20 working days.

We can refuse to disclose information if:

• Providing the information exceeds £450 (based on 18 of hours of staff time at a standard rate of £25 per hour).

• The information in question is exempt from disclosure under the Act. In this instance, we will explain our application of the relevant exemption. A list of the exemptions that can be applied under the Act can be found here.

• Your request is considered vexatious or repeated.

We’ll also advise if we don’t hold the information you require, or if the information is held by another public body.

The Freedom of Information Act allows Transport for Wales to recover some of the administrative costs incurred when processing a request which costs less than £450. There is no flat fee, but we may consider recovering communication costs such as photocopying, printing and postage on a case-by-case basis. However, if complying with the request would exceed the cost limit stated in the Act of £450, we may offer to supply the information and recover the full cost, rather than refusing the request. If we decide to charge a fee, we will issue you with a fees notice. The decision to charge a fee, whether the request exceeds the stated cost limit of £450 or not, is at our sole discretion. 

If you are unhappy with our response to your Freedom of Information request, you have the right to request an internal review. The review will be completed within 20 working days, wherever possible, by somebody other than the person who issued the initial response. If you remain unhappy following the outcome of the internal review, you will be directed to contact the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), who will investigate your complaint. 

The Environmental Information Regulations 2004 give members of the public the right to access environmental information held by public authorities. The Regulations apply only to environmental information, whilst the Freedom of Information Act 2000 gives access to most other types of information.

What is Environmental Information?

The regulations cover any recorded information concerning the state of the environment, such as:

• Information about the state of air, water, soil, land, flora and fauna

• Information about emissions and discharges, noise, energy, radiation, waste

• The state of human health and safety

• Policies, plans and agreements

The regulations do not cover information that is in someone’s head.

Who can make a request for information under the Environmental Information Regulations?

Anyone can make an Environmental Information Regulations request to Transport for Wales. To make a request you must provide your full name and contact address (this may be an email address).

How can a request be made?

You make a request using the same contact information as that listed for Freedom of Information requests above. Requests made in Welsh will not lead to a delay in responding.

How long will I have to wait for a response? 

As with a Freedom of Information request, an Environmental Regulations Request must usually be answered within 20 working days of receipt of the request. However, the regulations state that this time period can be extended to 40 working days if the request is substantial or complex.

Will I always get the information I request? 

We may refuse to disclose information if one of the exceptions outlined in the regulations applies. All the exceptions are subject to the public interest test.

Are there charges for providing information?

The Environmental Information Regulations do not define a ‘reasonable’ amount of money or time that a public authority should spend on a request; however, we may charge a reasonable fee disclosing information where requests place significant demand on our resources.

What if I'm not happy with TfW's response?

If you are unhappy with our response to your Environmental Information Regulations request, you have the right to request an internal review. The request for review must be received within 40 working days of receiving our refusal; and the review itself will be completed within 40 working days by a more senior initial decision-maker. If you remain unhappy following the outcome of the internal review, you will be directed to contact the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), who will investigate your complaint.