Frustrated resident's plea for parking permits rebuffed by ombudsman

Mr B wanted parking permits, like those issued for this zone in Swinley, on his street

The Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) received a complaint from a man who said he was unable to park on his own street because of “inconsiderate” motorists whose vehicles were obstructing his driveway.

The man, referred to as Mr B in the report, said the issue was particularly troublesome when events were being held at a nearby stadium.

It is unclear whether the issue referred to the DW Stadium or elsewhere in the borough such as Leigh Sports Village.

But the ombudsman decided an investigation would not be launched because it was unlikely they would find the council at fault.

The report said: “Mr B’s street is a public highway.

“There were no parking restrictions on the highway when Mr B first complained to the Council that residents were unable to park their vehicles on the street.

"Mr B has a driveway but says he needs additional parking on the road. Mr B also complains that his driveway has been obstructed as a result of inconsiderate parking, particularly when there are events at a nearby stadium.

"As there are no parking restrictions, any motorist can park their car in the street.

"Mr B wants the Council to introduce a parking permit scheme to prevent this.

“While Mr B considers the Council should and could do more to ensure only residents can park in his street, the Ombudsman can only criticise the Council if there is fault in the way it has made its decisions. It is not the Ombudsman’s role to decide if the Council should introduce the parking restrictions Mr B wants.

“Further consideration of the complaint is unlikely to find fault by the Council. This is because the Council has considered Mr B and his neighbours’ request for a residents’ parking permit scheme and explained why it will not introduce one.

“This decision was made after considering the Council’s permit parking scheme criteria.

“Although residents have no automatic right to park on the highway outside their property, the Council has taken action to try and alleviate the problems Mr B has reported.

"The Council has installed a ‘No through road’ sign, double yellow lines and white ‘H-bar’ markings on the road outside residents’ driveways to deter people parking there. The Council has discussed the issue with parking in Mr B’s street with the employer whose staff Mr B suspects park in the road.

"The Council has also explained to Mr B it sent enforcement officers to his street 60 times in the few months leading to March 2020, but there were no parking offences noted and no penalty charge notices issued.

“It is clear the Council has considered Mr B’s concerns against its policies and tried to assist where it can.

“Further consideration of the way the Council has made its decisions is unlikely to find fault.”