Pollution incident in Georgetown area (FOI)

Request

I often run through George Town in the evenings, recently I have smelt what can only be described as petrol (some type of fuel) will the Government confirm if they are aware of a fuel leak / spillage or any possible contamination substance in the area of Victoria Road or any substance they feel may have / is causing a contamination issue.

If there is an issue could have the hydro carbons from this have seeped into Bagot Road and caused the drain covers to lift earlier this year?

Response

Growth, Housing and Environment (GHE) are actively investigating a pollution incident in this area. As investigations are ongoing, any further information is currently exempt under Article 42 (Law Enforcement) of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011, as the disclosure of information at this time could prejudice such inquiry. It is the opinion of GHE that such potential prejudice outweighs the public interest in favour of current disclosure.

It is highly unlikely that any pollution incident at Victoria Road would be linked to the lifting of the drain covers that occurred earlier in the year in Bagot Road. GHE are currently investigating more probable causes.

Article applied

Article 42 Law enforcement

Information is qualified exempt information if its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice –

(a) the prevention, detection or investigation of crime, whether in Jersey or elsewhere;

(b) the apprehension or prosecution of offenders, whether in respect of offences committed in Jersey or elsewhere;

(c) the administration of justice, whether in Jersey or elsewhere;

(d) the assessment or collection of a tax or duty or of an imposition of a similar nature;

(e) the operation of immigration controls, whether in Jersey or elsewhere;

(f) the maintenance of security and good order in prisons or in other institutions where persons are lawfully detained;

(g) the proper supervision or regulation of financial services; or

(h) the exercise, by the Jersey Financial Services Commission, of any function imposed on it by any enactment.