The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council allowed a children’s park to be built in a residential area. This is because the complaint is made late and I see no good reason to exercise discretion and consider it now.
The complaint
Mrs X complains that the Council allowed a children’s park to be built near her home without any noise mitigation. Mrs X wants the park to be removed.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
We cannot investigate late complaints unless we decide there are good reasons. Late complaints are when someone takes more than 12 months to complain to us about something a council has done. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 26B and 34D, as amended)
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
I will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint. She has said that she raised her concerns about the park with the Council in 2022, but did not complain to the Ombudsman until April 2025. Her complaint is made late, and I see no good reason why she could not have complained to the Ombudsman sooner.
Final decision
We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because the complaint is made late and I see no good reason to exercise discretion and consider it now.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman