I am writing to formally request the provision of following documents for Wokingham
1. Most recent Conservation Areas shape file in vector format;
2. Most recent Article 4 designation areas shape file in vector format;
3. And most recent Tree Preservation Order shape files in vector format.
Currently, the mapped Conservation Areas, Article 4 and Tree Preservation Order maps cannot be assessed in sufficient detail, and having access to them in vector format is crucial for our analysis for planning purposes. I am happy to receive map/shape files in any recognised vector format which contains the coordinates describing the shape of the conservation areas, article 4 designation areas and TPO, so can be used in GIS software.
As conservation areas, article 4 and TPO are part of land designation, these shape files should be publicly accessible. Therefore, I kindly ask that you provide these shape files in a compatible vector format.
If the shape files are not available, please provide information about any Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) that you may have relating to conservation areas. Such APIs will help us accessing the files directly without the use of email.
Please treat this request under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, ensuring that the files and documentation are provided in the requested formats.
Wokingham Borough Council will not be releasing the requested GIS shapefiles on the following grounds:
Section 21(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 sets out an absolute exemption to an FOI request whereby the information is reasonably accessible to the applicant. The Council has made its GIS mapping data publicly available online at www.wokingham.gov.uk. The Council is not therefore obliged to provide the information requested, as it is already publicly available online for the applicant to access themselves.
Section 43 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 sets out that FOI requests shall be refused where they could prejudice commercial interests of an organisation. The Ordnance Survey (OS) licensing agreement shared with public service bodies, including Wokingham Borough Council, makes it clear that FOI requests for OS data in digital format (including data that is derived from OS data) shall be refused, given that vector data can be commercially exploited and hence undermine the revenues of OS and its licensed partners.