FOI Request - Environmental Impact to Cooper Park

Request 101003992988

I am sending this request under the Freedom of Information Act. I am requesting answers to the following questions

1. I would like to see the environmental impact assessment that was hopefully conducted prior to the pond work starting.

2. Can you provide the scores for the tender process that was conducted prior to awarding the pond works contract.

3. What measures are in place to mitigate the finding of the eels in the pond.

4. When the contract was awarded for the pond works, can you provide evidence of late completion penalties

5. Provide plans to remove the eels from the pond so the works can continue.

6. Provide the process that was followed to making the decision for the pontoons that are going to be put into the pond and whose idea was it.

Response 01-06-2026

1. The documents requested can be found in a previous response published on the Moray Council website. This information is therefore exempt under section 25 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, information otherwise accessible. For ease of reference please find a link to the web page here: http://www.moray.gov.uk/moray_standard/page_166894.html

2. This is considered commercially sensitive information and as such exempt under Section 33(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002- Commercial Sensitivity.

3. Checks for eels are  undertaken twice every day by a nominated construction staff member.  Where eels are found they are carefully collected by hand, placed into a large bucket, reacclimatised and relocated to the River Lossie.

4. Not held. Information that is not held falls under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Information not held.

5. At the time of responding to this request there are currently no eels in Cooper Park Pond. Please see question 3 for detailed mitigation information.

6. Section 17 of  FOISA – information not held - is applicable, as there is no established process. Nonetheless, we can confirm that there was no additional public consultation held; feedback was received from stakeholders and members of the public via social media and through contact with local MSP who expressed constituents’ views.