London Borough of Barking & Dagenham (25 016 812)
Category : Transport and highways > Parking and other penalties
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 15 Apr 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about parking enforcement in front of her home. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault to justify an investigation by the Ombudsman.
The complaint
- Ms X complains about how the Council are enforcing parking in front of her home following installation of a dropped kerb.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- 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 there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B)).
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Ms X complained the Council installed a parking bay incorrectly. She said it was a hazard as parked cars were blocking her exit from her driveway. She asked the Council to remove it.
- The Council said it had visited and taken photos and measurements of the parking bay. It said there was no evidence of safety risk or a breach of the Highway Code. The Council said it also visited when Ms X reported a vehicle blocking her drive but there was no parking contravention, so it could not issue a Penalty Charge Notice.
- Based on the evidence I have seen, there is not enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation by the Ombudsman. While I recognise parking across Ms X’s driveway is frustrating and inconvenient for her, the Council ensured the bay is not causing this. It also visited when Ms X reported a vehicle blocking her drive.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman