Essex County Council (19 001 355)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Drainage 07-Jun-2019

Summary: Mr X complained about run-off from the highway flooding his driveway during wet weather. The Ombudsman should not investigate this complaint. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.

Warboys Somersham & Pidley Internal Drainage Board (19 000 252)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Drainage 31-May-2019

Summary: Mr B complains that the Internal Drainage Board acted negligently in the way it maintained drains connected to his land, resulting in flooding and damage. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint. This is because it is reasonable for Mr B to use the legal remedies available to him.

Environment Agency (17 014 051)

Statement Not upheld Drainage 20-May-2019

Summary: Mr X complains the Environment Agency has failed to classify a water structure as a dam and has delayed undertaking works to prevent flooding. There is no fault in the process leading to the decision not to classify the structure as a dam. This is a matter of professional judgement. While the works have taken longer than originally anticipated this is not due to fault by the Environment Agency.

Bristol City Council (19 000 568)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Drainage 17-May-2019

Summary: Ms B complains the Council’s failure to take appropriate action has resulted in damage to her property through repeated water ingress. The Ombudsman will not investigate the complaint because matters relating to this issue have already been considered by the courts and so fall outside our jurisdiction.

Forest of Dean District Council (19 000 398)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Drainage 16-May-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr B’s drainage complaint. This is because we could not achieve the outcome he is seeking.

Lancashire County Council (19 000 018)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Drainage 14-May-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr B’s complaint that the Council failed to answer his query and reply to his complaint. This is because it is unlikely we could add to what the Council has done.

Essex County Council (18 009 677)

Statement Not upheld Drainage 13-May-2019

Summary: Mr B complains the Council has carried out work to his property in a way that he did not consent to. He says the work means he has lost several metres of his garden and the garden is now not safe for children. The Ombudsman does not find fault with the Council.

Herefordshire Council (18 012 109)

Statement Upheld Drainage 29-Apr-2019

Summary: Mrs Y complains about the Council’s decision not to take enforcement action against her neighbour, Mrs X, for allegedly blocking a known route of surface and flood water. The Ombudsman finds no evidence of procedural fault in the Council’s actions, and so we will not question the merits of its decision not to enforce against Mrs X. However, there was some delay in the Council’s early correspondence with Mrs Y, which it will apologise for.