The Isle of Wight Council has refused to supply information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by claiming it has nothing to do with a group it set up in 2015.

For almost 10 years the Transport Infrastructure Board has met regularly with council representatives, local transport operators and others, but in a letter refusing to release documents, the council claimed that although it has a seat on the board and attends the meetings, it only holds information “on behalf of another body/organisation”, and it is therefore not covered by the transparency law.

IW Observer’s editor, Carole Dennett said: “This excuse is complete bunkum. Perhaps even worse than the idea that the IW Council does not understand the legislation, is the suspicion that officers paid for by Islanders are colluding with local transport operators. That includes cross-Solent ferry operators, and they are keeping information they should release out of the public domain at a sensitive time when one of the companies is up for sale.

“We have challenged this decision, and if it is not overturned, will take it to the Information Commissioner’s Office, who I believe will very quickly explain to the IW Council how the Freedom of Information Act works.”