Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about access to a public park. Any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained about the Council’s decision to lock a public park outside of work hours. He said that affected his ability to access the park.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We do not start or continue an investigation if we decide:

• any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement.

(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. We will normally only investigate a complaint where the complainant has suffered serious loss, harm or distress as a direct result of faults or failures by an organisation. Although the Council’s decision to lock the public park outside of working hours affects Mr X’s ability to access the park, we would not consider that a significant injustice. Therefore, we will not investigate.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman