Surrey County Council (23 015 682)
Category : Transport and highways > Traffic management
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 06 Mar 2024
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Council proposals to make changes to roads in the area to improve cycling and walking. This is because any fault by the Council has not caused the complainant an injustice.
The complaint
- Mr X complains about Council proposals to make changes to roads in the area to improve cycling and walking. Mr X says the Council provided misleading information about road narrowing, ignored safety warnings, relied on biased surveys and failed to properly consult with local residents.
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 fault has not caused injustice to the person who complained. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by the complainant.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- The Council proposed to introduce changes to roads in its area to make travel safer for pedestrians and cyclists. The proposals included improvements to junctions, new crossing points and a new cycle path. Mr X complained to the Council about the proposals and consultation for the new cycle path.
- Since complaining to the Ombudsman, the Council has made the decision to implement some of the proposed changes but will not be proceeding with the new cycle path. I will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because the changes he complained about are not going ahead and therefore any fault with how the Council dealt with these matters has not caused him an injustice.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because any fault by the Council has not caused him an injustice.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman