Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about parking restrictions. This is because further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

The complaint

1. Ms X complains the Council unfairly applied parking restrictions outside her house. She says that parking restrictions should have applied to the whole of her road.
2. Ms X says current restrictions mean she is the only resident unable to park near her property. Ms X says that this has significantly reduced access to her home.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. 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:

• we could not add to any previous investigation by the organisation, or
• further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by Ms X and the Council.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. Following concerns raised by local residents, the Council consulted on parking restrictions for part of Ms X’s road. Ms X objected to the consultation and the Council considered her objection.
7. Once parking restrictions were put in place Ms X complained to the Council that the road had become more dangerous, that the whole street was affected by obstructive parking and that their decision unfairly disadvantaged some residents of the road.
8. Ms X also raised some concerns about the condition of the footpath.
9. The Council explained that it had a duty for managing and maintaining the road network and that it had been necessary to impose restrictions to prevent obstructive parking, improve access, maintain sightlines and enhance general road safety.
10. The Council also explained that at the time of the initial investigation, officers had not witnessed obstructive parking on the other part of the road.
11. The Council apologised and agreed to undertake parking engagement surveys in the area, as part of a review of parking controls.
12. The Council also arranged for a highways’ engineer to visit to check for new defects and possible repairs to the carriageway and footpath.
13. I consider that the Council have addressed Ms X’s concerns fully. It is unlikely that investigation by the Ombudsman would add to the Council’s responses. I also consider that the Council have proposed appropriate solutions to Ms X’s complaints. Therefore, further investigation would lead to a different outcome.

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Final decision

14. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman