Environmental information requests (EIR)

Your right to ask for any information we hold relating to the environment, including how to make a request.

The law gives you the right to ask for information we hold that's related to the environment. 

Any requests for information about environmental matters are dealt with under the The Environmental Information Regulations 2004.

Before you make a request

Environmental information includes:

  • planning
  • waste management
  • pollution

You might not need to make a request under the Environmental Information Regulations to get the information you want.

We maintain a publication scheme that contains information we regularly make available. You might be able to find the information you want by checking our publication scheme.

Go to our publication scheme

Make an EIR request

Your request must be in writing and include:

  • your name
  • your postal address
  • your email address
  • a description of the information requested

Make your request online.

Start now

You can also write to:

EIR request
Woking Borough Council
Civic Offices
Gloucester Square
Woking
GU21 6YL

Reasons we may refuse your request

We may sometimes refuse all or part of your request.

Examples where this may happen include:

  • we do not hold the information
  • your request is too broad or unclear
  • the information is still being gathered and it is not complete
  • the information is publicly available elsewhere
  • your request involves personal data
  • the information is confidential (commercial or industrial information)

For more information, go to the how to access information from a public authority – Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)

EIR search costs

We may charge a reasonable cost for providing this information. Our fee is £80 per hour.

If your request is subject to a fee, we will contact you to let you know the cost.

You are required to make the payment before we provide you with the requested information.

How we will respond

After you submit your request, we:

  • check that it’s clear to understand and a valid request
  • work with the service area to prepare a written response
  • respond to your request within 20 days – we may lawfully extend the deadline