Hampshire County Council (26 003 546)
Category : Transport and highways > Street furniture and lighting
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 15 Jun 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a signpost. This is because it is reasonable for Miss X to take court action.
The complaint
- Miss X complains the Council installed a signpost on her private property. Miss X says the Council is using wrong information about who owns the land despite her getting a land survey showing the land is hers. She states this has caused her to spend around £800 on a survey, the sign prevents her altering her driveway as she wants to and she feels bullied and vulnerable.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- The law says we cannot normally investigate a complaint when someone could take the matter to court. However, we may decide to investigate if we consider it would be unreasonable to expect the person to go to court. (Local Government Act 1974, section 26(6)(c), as amended)
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Miss X and the Council are in dispute about who owns the land the signpost is on. A court could decide who owns the land, so the restriction in paragraph 2 applies. It is not for us to decide private ownership disputes. That is more appropriately for the courts. There might be some cost to court action. However, that does not make it proper for us to try to decide who owns the land. And Miss X could ask the court for some of her costs if her court action succeeds.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint because it is reasonable to expect Miss X to take court action.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman