Slough Borough Council (25 026 610)
Category : Transport and highways > Parking and other penalties
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 15 Jul 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about road markings causing ambiguity because any injustice is not significant enough to warrant an investigation.
The complaint
- Ms X complains the Council changed the parking layout near her home and painted new markings without removing the old lines. She says this has caused ambiguity and the Council unfairly issued a penalty charge notice.
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 any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement. (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 said the Council changed the parking layout near her home and painted new markings without removing the old lines. She said this caused ambiguity and the Council were still taking enforcement action.
- The Council agreed with Ms X there were conflicting lines. It did a site visit and said it would review the parking zone within 12-18 months. It also told its enforcement team to review markings before issuing tickets, and cancelled the penalty charge notice issued to Ms X.
- I will not investigate Ms X’s complaint. I understand Ms X was frustrated by having to appeal the penalty charge notice, and the ambiguity of the white lines is inconvenient. However, I do not consider she has suffered a significant personal injustice which warrants an investigation.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because any injustice is not significant enough.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman