Wednesday 25 February 7-830pm online
Freedom of Information is one tool in the box which you can use to help your campaign. This legislation puts a duty on public bodies to make certain information accessible to the public on request.
We heard from Preslava Todorova of the Environmental Rights Centre Scotland, who leads on their Freedom of Information work. Preslava explained how to effectively draft Freedom of Information requests to obtain the information you need, how to challenge and appeal decisions, and the role of the Information Commissioner. She also outlined the key differences between Freedom of Information requests and the Environmental Information Regulations.
Suzanne Cross from the campaign group Save Our Greenspace shared her experience of using Freedom of Information requests to access information about the House of Rosskeen development in Inverness. She outlined the benefits, pitfalls, and how she is still working with the Information Commissioner to ensure the right information is provided. The Save our Greenspaces campaign has recently moved to judicial appeal, costing thousands, Planning Democracy will donate their proceeds of the webinar to the Save our Greenspaces Just Giving campaign – find out more about the campaign and how you can supporting them here.
More about the speakers
Preslava Todara
Preslava has broad experience in legal research and analysis, as well as in project management. Prior to joining ERCS, she worked on research in the field of renewable energy and greenwashing. Her past work with a Glasgow-based environmental start-up included project management and policy research for saline water farms in the west of Scotland. Alongside working for ERCS, she volunteers for a rewilding charity. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, learning languages, and pickling.
Suzanne Cross
Suzanne represents the Save our Greenspaces campaign. Save Our Green Space (SOGS) formed in late-2023 in opposition to a proposed housing development on the outskirts of Invergordon, Ross-shire. The development will destroy the town’s last remaining wild, traffic-free greenspace, and irreversibly damage the ancient woodland surrounding it. The site is a sanctuary for the local community, a haven for biodiversity and protected species, has a settlement history spanning over 1000 years, and is a vital part of Scotland’s heritage.