6th September 2025
National Freedom of Information campaigner, Alan Dransfield, has threatened to take the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to court in a case that could have national consequences — but with connections to Stockport’s own planning and environmental disputes.
Mr Alan M. Dransfield, well known nationally for raising concerns about the use of vexatious brandings, has issued a formal Letter Before Claim to the ICO, accusing the regulator of unlawfully blocking his information rights and misusing case law to brand his requests “vexatious.”
Mr Dransfield argues that this blanket ban has not only denied him answers but has also helped cover up issues such as:
- Alleged wildlife crime and tipping along Padden Brook.
- Fraud and planning irregularities linked to multi-million-pound school and housing schemes in Stockport.
- The illegal loss of public open space despite community objections.
He is now seeking damages of up to £17 million, alongside orders to stop the ICO from relying on what he calls the “Dransfield precedent.”
Locals will recall that disputes over Vale View School’s development sparked heated debates more than a decade ago, with critics warning of long-term damage to children’s health. Mr Dransfield maintains that his attempts to obtain official documents about these and many other matters were unfairly shut down by the ICO.
In his letter to the watchdog, he writes: “Unless I receive a substantive response within 14 days, I will commence proceedings without further notice.”
While the ICO has yet to comment, the case could bring renewed scrutiny not only on how the UK handles freedom of information but also on how Stockport has managed its green spaces and planning decisions.
For residents concerned about Padden Brook, Vale View, and wider issues of transparency in local government, Mr Dransfield’s legal battle may feel like the latest chapter in a much longer story.
