Overview
A member of the Scottish Parliament (Mr C) complained on behalf of a village residents' association in his constituency. Until 1999, the village had been the location of a prison, owned and run by the Scottish Prison Service (the SPS). The prison itself was sold in 2003. The SPS also owned a number of residential properties in the village, occupied by prison employees. These properties were serviced by private roads and lighting systems. Mr C complained that, prior to selling these properties to private individuals, the SPS failed to make appropriate provision for the future upkeep of the roads and lighting. He also complained that the SPS withdrew, without notice, from a funding agreement they had entered into that he claimed would enable works to be done to the roads and lighting to allow the local authority to take over responsibility for them.
Specific complaints and conclusions
The complaints which have been investigated are that:
- (a) the SPS failed to make appropriate provision for the future upkeep of the private roads and lighting systems before selling them (not upheld); and
- (b) the SPS withdrew, without notice, from a funding agreement to pay for a share of the costs of upgrading the private roads and lighting to a standard that would be satisfactory for the relevant local authority to adopt (not upheld).
Redress and recommendations
The Ombudsman has no recommendations to make.