Decision report 201004322

Summary
Mr C complained that in 2007, contractors working for the council had, without warning removed a wooden fence and then a large section of his mother's hedge and hurdle fence that divided her property with her neighbour's property. Thereafter the contractors began to work on a joint drain, access to which was a manhole-type cover. Mr C stated the drain cover was re-sited without consultation and encroached into his mother's garden. In his view, the new location of the manhole is inappropriate as it is sited under his mother's hedge, which would need to be removed to provide access.

We did not uphold Mr C’s allegation that the council inappropriately moved the manhole and did so without consultation. We also did not uphold his complaint that the new location of the manhole is inappropriate.

We noted that before Mr C brought the complaint to us the council had apologised to him and his mother for the initial event that occurred in 2007 and had taken steps to ensure such incidents would not recur.