Letter to Tony Redmond, Local Government Ombudsman, 5th December
2009
Dear Mr RedmondYour Reference: Braintree District Council 09 008 207
As you have failed to answer my concerns about Doug Thorpe’s decision not to investigate the complaint I made about Braintree District Council who have broken many promises and intentions following a two month battle with them last year. When they introduced clamping in Driberg Way without warning or making any arrangements for the vehicles, apparently they did not know that this clamping would cause dangerous traffic conditions. As your department is aware we had to get all sorts of people involved before BDC lifted the dangerous situation they created which caused many accidents in Skitts Hill and considerable inconvenience to residents and children in Brise Close. This inconvenience still exists in Brise Close as many vehicles remained parked in Brise Close encouraged by BDC’s action last year. We have an amenity area opposite and residents cannot keep an eye on the children because they cannot be seen because of the cars. It is also dangerous with the movement of these cars when they park and when they go and for dust-carts and residents cars and parking is very restricted for residents. We are talking about a small cul-de-sac with children playing. Parking restrictions will move the problem to other residential areas and inconvenience Brise Close residents. There were no parking problems in Brise Close for 26 years until the clamping last year.
Your web site states that you will take up cases which involve council’s not keeping promises. How many promises do they have to break before you take action against them? Well BDC after a long battle involving the Media, MP, Essex Councillor and BDC councillor’s they lifted the clamping which they intended to keep on permanently. We invited BDC to come and meet us during these two months but they did not accept. Everyone else we approached did come and discuss the problems with us. Many complaints were made by the residents which they took no notice of and tried to pass the buck to Essex County Council. Eventually Elwyn Bishop Councillor for Essex County Council had meetings with the residents and persuaded BDC to lift the clamping along with the MP and eventually the Leader of BDC Graham Butland saw the problem even though he had been copied in to many of the complaints for two months. A petition was presented to the CEO but they had a meeting about that but it seems not to have any lasting effect. We told them that the issue would not be closed until BDC took measures to deal with the residue of vehicles left in Brise Close. But the petition was basically ignored by BDC. Graham Butland promised to look into providing a car park and so did Allan Reid and Chris Fleetham, Graham Butland also promised not to introduce parking restrictions in Skitts Hill but on being elected to the Essex County Council did the complete opposite and agreed to put parking restrictions in Skitts Hill. Which will make the parking situation worse.
Graham Butland and Allan Reid also said they had to find a permanent solution to the parking problems in Driberg Way. They also said they would consult with the residents. They kept none of their promises and intentions. Allan Reid also said he should have consulted with residents to be a good neighbour but none of this has happened. BDC have given planning permission to extend Unit 2 Driberg Way without consulting with residents this will make the parking situation worse. BDC have not answered why they have not kept any of the promises and intentions made. Although they have failed to tell me, Allan Reid sent an unacceptable letter saying they would not communicate with me any further. They make problems but do not provide solutions or answer questions even the chairlady did not answer the questions.
Turning to your part in this saga. It took your officers two months to do absolutely nothing, this is as long as BDC took last year to lift their clamping regime apart from ringing BDC to clarify the letter which Allan Reid sent to me saying he will not deal with me anymore. I rang Doug Thorpe one day many times and he did not answer the phone or ring back, so I rang his admin support and he refused to take my call. He also stated in a letter did I want the papers back I sent him. This was stated quite clearly in my original letter that I wanted them back. This is cause for concern as it shows he did not read and take in the information in the papers I sent, which showed clearly that BDC had made promises and intentions which they had no intention of keeping, so you can realise that I was extremely surprised on your incomprehensible decision, upheld by your assistant ombudsman. I have also rung your office and got a recorded announcement that the phones were not being answered because all staff were doing training. I have also been told by your office that The Chief Ombudsman should look at decisions that are not acceptable. But you remain silent. On exploring the net I find that you find less than 2% of complaints in the residents favour. Therefore your impartiality is in question not only by me. If I want to take it to judicial review you will fight to uphold this incredible decision and it could cost £2500. So you obviously spend more time in upholding unbelievable decisions than the time spent investigating them. I have asked for a customer satisfaction form but none has been forthcoming, I suppose you pick and choose who to send them too.
Instead of remaining silent please can you now investigate the overwhelming evidence that BDC made promises and intentions, none of which they kept. I am right that you do investigate broken promises or am I wrong? Do you consider that BDC have kept all their promises? I look forward to receiving a quick reply. I cannot believe that this problem has not been dealt with by BDC in a year.
I will be confirming this letter by recorded delivery and also sending copies by recorded delivery to Gordon Brown, David Cameron, Brooks Newmark and John Denham. As you are aware Brooks Newmark can understand why I am asking why BDC has not kept its promises and intentions. I am giving you another chance to reply before releasing details to the press and the groups that say the ombudsman is biased towards Local Authorities, I believe most of the staff come from Local Government. It should be set up with a balance of residents to ensure fair play and credibility. As previously advised I want the letter from Allan Reid withdrawn and their promises kept surely that’s not too much to ask. They made these promises to placate the residents with no intention of keeping them. Please reply by 18 December 2009.
Yours sincerely
Philip Jinman