Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s refusal to introduce additional safety measures on the road outside Mr X’s property. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council and the injustice Mr X claims stems from his decision to move to the property rather than the Council’s decision not to make changes to the road.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains the Council failed to properly consider his concerns about road safety. He says it failed to properly assess risk, did not consider evidence and relied on a blanket policy. He also says the Council did not give a suitable explanation about its road markings and delayed in dealing with his enquiries/complaint.
2. Mr X says vehicles park outside his property in a way which is unsafe, affecting visibility when entering and exiting the driveway. He is concerned about the risk to his safety and the safety of his young children.

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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 effect 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 an investigation if we decide the tests set out in our Assessment Code are not met. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

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

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My assessment

6. Mr X moved into his property in late 2025 and almost immediately contacted the Council asking it to make changes to the road layout and to introduce additional measures which would make it safer for him to enter and exit his driveway. The Council declined to introduce any further measures in its response but confirmed it would monitor conditions on his road and keep the location under review for future safety improvements.
7. The Council is under no obligation to make the changes Mr X wants and Mr X cannot expect it make the changes immediately just because he wants it to. The Council has explained the reasons it will not proceed with Mr X’s suggestions for the time being and I have seen no basis for us to question its decision.
8. I also cannot say the Council’s decision caused Mr X significant injustice. This is because the road layout and safety measures are the same as when Mr X moved to the property. Any injustice he claims therefore stems from his decision to move there, rather than from the Council’s decision not to make changes.
9. Had Mr X felt the road was unsafe or represented a significant and unacceptable hazard for himself and his children he could have decided to move elsewhere; he would not then be affected by the issue and would have no reason to complain about it.

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Final decision

10. We will not investigate this complaint. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council or to show its decision caused Mr X significant injustice.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman