Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to close a runway on an airfield close to the complainants home. This is because the events happened too long ago, and I see no reason why the complainant couldn’t have complained sooner.

The complaint

1. The complainant, who I will call Mr X, complains about the Council’s decision to close a runway on an airfield close to his home. Mr X says the Council made its decision without considering the impact transferring all flights onto a single flight path would have on residents.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
3. We cannot investigate late complaints unless we decide there are good reasons. Late complaints are when someone takes more than 12 months to complain to us about something a council has done. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 26B and 34D, as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

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

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My assessment

6. I will not investigate this complaint. This is because the decision to close the runway happened too long ago. Records show that Mr X was aware of the Council’s plans to close the runway in 2018, and the runway finally closed in 2019. I see no reason why he could not have complained to the Ombudsman sooner.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because the complaint is late and I see no reason why he could not have complained sooner.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman