Isle of Wight Council (25 010 078)
Category : Transport and highways > Traffic management
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 17 Feb 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate Ms X complaint about parked cars obstructing a road. There is insufficient evidence of fault to justify investigation.
The complaint
- Ms X complains the Council have not taken action to prevent parking on a narrow road.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- We investigate complaints of injustice caused by ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’. I have used the word fault to refer to these. We consider whether there was fault in the way an organisation made its decision. If there was no fault in how the organisation made its decision, we cannot question the outcome. (Local Government Act 1974, section 34(3), as amended)
- 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 informed the Council that parked vehicles were narrowing the usable width of the road she lives on causing an obstruction. She says this affects access for emergency services, carers, and deliveries to residents on the road.
- The Council visited the road and determined there was adequate clearance. It contacted the Fire Service, which confirmed there was acceptable access for emergency vehicles, and the refuse collection service, which also confirmed there was acceptable access. The Council concluded there was no obstruction.
- The Council did identify a hedge that was potentially interfering with the road. It used its powers to request that the owner cut it back. A council can take action to require vegetation to be cut back where it has the potential to interfere with the road while also determining that there is no obstruction.
- I have seen insufficient evidence of fault in the way the Council investigated the potential obstruction. The Council visited the road, considered how it is used, and consulted relevant agencies. There is not enough evidence of fault in the Council’s processes to warrant further investigation.
Final decision
We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint. There is insufficient evidence of fault to justify investigation.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman