Romiley Gazette – Investigative Report
Thursday 30 October 2025
Urgent: Allegations of Misconduct Over “As Built Health and Safety Files”
A formal complaint has been raised with the government alleging serious misconduct and systemic failure by several major public bodies — including the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), Devon County Council, and the UK courts — in relation to the “As Built Health and Safety Files” (ABHSF) for the Exeter PFI construction projects.
The complaint, submitted by campaigner Alan M. Dransfield, calls for an independent inquiry into what he describes as “a grave miscarriage of justice” involving the suppression and falsification of vital safety documentation.
The central issue: withheld and altered safety records
According to Mr Dransfield, the ABHSFs for several Exeter public infrastructure projects — including schools and bridges built under Private Finance Initiative (PFI) schemes — were deliberately withheld or falsified to disguise serious quality-assurance and compliance failures.
He claims that the omissions include missing lightning-protection systems and other basic safety features required under statutory health-and-safety and engineering standards.
“These are not trivial administrative oversights,” Dransfield wrote. “The absence of these systems poses real risks to the public and demonstrates a failure of regulatory oversight.”
Alleged misuse of the “vexatious” label
At the heart of his concerns is the Information Commissioner’s Office’s application of the Dransfield precedent — a 2012 Upper Tribunal decision that allows public authorities to reject Freedom of Information (FOI) requests deemed “vexatious.”
Dransfield argues that this ruling has been repeatedly misapplied, enabling councils and government agencies to withhold legitimate requests under Section 14(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
He claims this has allowed authorities to hide critical safety documentation that should lawfully be in the public domain.
Failures in judicial oversight
The complaint further accuses HM Courts and Tribunals Service, including the Upper Tribunal, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court, of “failing to act with candour and impartiality” when reviewing his cases.
Mr Dransfield maintains that the courts’ deference to the ICO’s “vexatious” interpretation has compounded the injustice, closing off lawful routes for public accountability.
Call for an independent investigation
In his letter addressed to the Minister and the Justice Committee, Dransfield requests an immediate inquiry into:
- The ICO’s handling of FOI and Environmental Information Regulation (EIR) requests related to the Exeter PFI projects;
- Devon County Council’s alleged role in falsifying the As Built Health and Safety Files;
- The conduct of the courts in upholding what he considers a misuse of the law.
He has stated he is willing to provide documentary evidence and full cooperation to any independent inquiry.
Why it matters
The As Built Health and Safety Files form the technical backbone of public-sector construction projects — confirming that buildings and infrastructure have been completed safely and to specification.
If the allegations prove correct, the implications reach beyond Devon: they would raise serious questions about national oversight of PFI works, the integrity of safety certification processes, and the accountability of information regulators and courts.
Next steps
As of publication, neither the Information Commissioner’s Office nor Devon County Council had publicly responded to Mr Dransfield’s latest correspondence.
The Romiley Gazette will continue to monitor developments closely and will publish any official statements or outcomes of ministerial review as they become available.
