Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about speed restrictions in the area. This is because there is insufficient evidence of significant injustice.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains on behalf of himself and other residents about how the Council handled their request to introduce a county-wide speed limit. He says the roads are unsafe. Mr X and other residents want the Council to consider adopting a lower speed limit around the county.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. 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:
3. any fault has not caused injustice to the person who complained, or
4. any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement, or
5. further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.
6. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

7. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
8. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

9. Mr X along with other residents asked the Council to consider adopting a 20 miles per hour speed limit on the county’s roads. He complained to the Council about how it handled their request.
10. The Council’s response explained its position on speed limits and its Speed Management Strategy. We do not investigate all the complaints we receive. In deciding whether to investigate we need to consider various tests. These include the alleged injustice to the person complaining. We only investigate the most serious complaints. I understand Mr X believes the Council did not fully respond to all the points he made, but any injustice caused by this is not sufficient to justify an investigation by the Ombudsman.
11. The Council recently drafted a new Safer Speeds Strategy. It is considering the safety of the roads and proposes to consult local residents about its proposals to improve road safety.
12. Mr X complained about the content of the draft Safer Speed Strategy. He has also raised concerns about how the Council is dealing with the proposed strategy. However, these issues have occurred since Mr X complained to the Ombudsman. Mr X and other residents will have the opportunity to express their views during the consultation. If they remain unhappy with the final decision about the speed strategy, they should make a further complaint to the Council. Mr X can return to the Ombudsman and make a new, separate complaint if he remains unhappy once he has received the Council’s response.
13. Final decision
14. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because there is insufficient evidence of significant injustice.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman