The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council installing double yellow lines outside Mr X’s home as I do not consider Mr X’s claimed injustice is sufficient to warrant our involvement
The complaint
Mr X complains the Council had no justification to install double yellow lines in his street. Mr X says he has been left feeling isolated as he says friends and carers can no longer park outside his home. Mr X has also been caused stress.
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 any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended)
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by the complainant.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
I recognise Mr X is unhappy at the Council’s decision. However, Mr X has off road parking at his home for at least one vehicle and has a garage. There is a space outside his home where there are no double yellow lines, where visitors can park, and there is parking available further down his street. I do not consider therefore that Mr X is caused a significant injustice from the Council’s decision to install parking restrictions and therefore, we will not investigate.
Final decision
We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because he is not caused a sufficient level of injustice to warrant our involvement.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman