- Your service
- GDPR/Data Protection
- Freedom of Information
Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service is committed to fulfilling its obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI) and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR). EIR gives individual similar rights as the FOIA but only covers information about the environment such as land, water, biological organisms etc.
For all other information requests including Subject Access Requests please email - information.management@cheshirefire.gov.uk
We recognise the importance of openness, transparency and engaging with the communities we serve and the requirements to scrutinise how we use public money.
Under the legislation any person making a request for information to a Public Authority is entitled:
to be informed in writing by the Public Authority whether it holds the information of the description specified in the request, and
if that is the case, to have that information communicated to them (unless an exemption is applied).
In order to balance these requirements and provide value for money, we have taken the decision to review the way in which we process requests.
Section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act is an exemption that we will apply if the information requested is already publicly available.
We now request that prior to submitting a request you please use the following links to ascertain if the information you require is already available. Not only will this ensure proper use of public money, but you will also get the information you require without delay.
Our Publication Scheme provides various links to information about Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, it details who we are, what we do and what we spend. All invoices paid over £500 are published on Cheshire Fire and Rescue Services website each month. Please visit the Publication Scheme link below as the information you require may already be available meaning you will get your information much quicker.
Our FOI Disclosure Log is a new feature. This provides details of all FOI and EIRs that we have received over the last 3 years. It is user friendly and easily searchable. Please visit the Disclosure Log link below as the information you require may already be available meaning you will get your information much quicker.
Our Contracts are all publicly available on the Public Contract Database. No log in is required to access the database simply use the organisation drop down box to select the specific organisation to search. All contracts are easily viewable and searchable by name. You can also access Tender Opportunities from the same page, just select the Tender Tab at the top. Please visit the Public Contract Database link below as the information you require may already be available meaning you will get your information much quicker.
If the information that you require is not already published, you can make your request by completing the form below. This will ensure that you provide the relevant information that we require to process your request in a timely manner. If partial data is already published please only request the missing information you require.
Within Timeframe | % Within Timeframe | Count of Within Timeframe |
YES | 96.11% | 173 |
NO | 0.56% | 1 |
N/A | 3.33% | 6 - Closed invalid requests |
TOTAL | 100.00% | 180 |
Within Timeframe | % Within Timeframe | Count of Within Timeframe |
YES | 93.10% | 135 |
NO | 2.76% | 4 |
N/A | 4.14% | 6 - Closed invalid requests |
TOTAL | 100.00% | 145 |
You can also request information by post to:
Information Compliance Manager (FOI)
Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service
Sadler Road
Winsford
Cheshire
CW7 2FQ
Or by email at Freedom.of information@cheshirefire.gov.uk
We reserve the right under the Act to charge for any information where the request will take more that 18 hours to complete. We are permitted under the Act to charge for costs associated with providing the information, for example photocopying and postage. If the information you request incurs a charge or fee we will advise you prior to producing the information and try to offer a suitable alternative.
We will record the details you have provided including your request and our responses and will retain for a period of 3 years. All FOIs are published on our Disclosure Log with all personal details removed (see Privacy Notice below).
How we handle requests made to us under FOI or EIR.
We aim to acknowledge all requests within one working day of receipt. We may contact you should we require any further clarification on the information you have requested. If we need to do this, then then this will impact the response timeframe. Completing the form provided correctly will reduce the need for clarification and will avoid any unnecessary delays.
We aim to respond to your request within the 20-working day timeframe . However, there may be instances where we are unable to comply with the 20-day timescale, if this is the case, we will inform you as soon as practicable.
There may be occasions where we are unable to provide you with the information you have requested. If the information you have requested falls under an exemption, we will provide you with a written explanation also called a Refusal Notice which details which exemption we have applied and why. If you are dissatisfied with our handling of your request or our response you have the right to make a complaint. A complaint under Freedom of Information is referred to as an Internal Review. Details will be provided at the relevant point.
You can find out more about FOI / EIR exemptions from the Information Commissioner website - List of exemptions | ICO
Internal Reviews are considered independently of the manager who first dealt with your request. We will acknowledge within 1 working day and advise you of the next steps. If you remain dissatisfied, you have the right to complain direct to the ICO.
The ICO is responsible for enforcing the FOI Act and the EIR. However, the ICO will only take action if the criteria for a valid requests are met and/or once the organisations own procedures have been exhausted.
Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Telephone: 0303 123 1113
Fax: 01625 524510
Under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000 for a FOI to be valid you must have included your real name and your address (an email address will suffice).
Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service will process the personal data, that you provided to us to validate your FOI request. We rely on Article 6 (1) (c) to process your data to enable us as a Public Authority to comply with the legal obligation that we are subject to under the Act.
Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service will only use your personal data for this purpose and will not share your personal data outside of the service. If you are a journalist or from a media organisation our Corporate Communications Office will be notified that you have made a request so that they are aware of any potential forthcoming news coverage to which they may need to respond.
PLEASE NOTE: This will not affect the information that you receive.
We compile and publish statistics showing information such as the number of requests we receive, but not in a form that identifies anyone. We also record the types of applicants making requests using a broad category (Press/Media, Commercial Company, Student, What do they Know, Private Individual, Other). This will be used to assist us to refine and improve our Publication Scheme.
Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service will only store your personal data and the corresponding request for 3 years. Once this has elapsed your personal data will be deleted from our systems.
Last updated: Thursday, 5 March 2026