London Borough of Waltham Forest (24 012 913)
Category : Transport and highways > Traffic management
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 07 Jan 2025
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to take enforcement action against a local garage for illegal parking, speeding and noise nuisance on the street where he lives. The Council confirms regular enforcement patrols take place, multiple penalty charge notices have been issued and there is an existing road improvement scheme in place to address the concerns. We consider further investigation will not lead to a different outcome.
The complaint
- Mr X complains the Council is failing to take enforcement action against a garage which parks cars illegally on his street, use the street as a test track and make unacceptable noise.
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 further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.
(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by the complainant.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Mr X complains a garage is parking cars on double yellow lines and using the street as a test track. He asked for speed cameras or speed bumps and better parking enforcement.
- The Council website shows a road improvement scheme is already underway. This will include changes to the footways and carriageway and installation of CCTV cameras. Online mapping shows some improvements have already taken place, including repainted yellow lines and a raised road table. The Council has also advised Mr X it makes regular patrols and has issued multiple penalty charge notices. And Mr X is aware he can report illegal parking, and the nearest parking enforcement team will attend.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint. The Council already carries out parking patrols and issues penalty charge notices. There is a road improvement scheme ongoing, and some improvements have already been made. We consider there is nothing worthwhile that an investigation will achieve.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman