The Planning Inspectorate- Wales

Public path orders

8 Complaints

Complaining to us

8.1 The letter we send out to let people know we have received the order will give the name of the officer dealing with the case. You should contact this person first if you have any questions or complaints about the way the order is being handled. If you are not happy with the way your problem is dealt with, you can contact our Quality Assurance Unit at:

The Planning Inspectorate
Crown Buildings
Cathays Park
Cardiff
CFI 3NQ

8.2 If you have a complaint about the inspector's decision letter, or about the way the inspector is dealing with the case, please write to the address above. We cannot reconsider an order which a decision has already been made on. The only way that a decision can be challenged is in the High Court.

The High Court

8.3 You can challenge the decision of the Secretary of State or the inspector on legal grounds in the High Court.

8.4 If the inspector has confirmed the order, you must apply to the High Court within 6 weeks of the decision being published in the newspaper.

8.5 If the inspector has not confirmed the order, you must apply to the High Court within 3 months of the date of the inspector's decision.

8.6 For your challenge to be successful, you would have to show that either:

The inspector or the Secretary of State had overstepped their powers in some way.

Any relevant criteria had not been met and this has damaged your interests.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration (the Ombudsman)

8.7 If you think that you have been treated unfairly because we or the inspector have not done our job properly, you can ask the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration (the Ombudsman) to investigate. You cannot contact the Ombudsman direct. You must go through a Member of Parliament (MP). This does not have to be your local MP, but in most cases this will be the easiest person to approach. (You will find their name and address in the local library.) The Ombudsman has no power to question the merit of the order or to change the decision.

Administrative Justice & Tribunals Council

8.8 If you feel that there was something wrong with the basic procedure we used for your appeal, you can complain to Administrative Justice & Tribunals Council at:

Administrative Justice & Tribunals Council
81 Chancery Lane
London
WC2A 1BQ

The Council will take the matter up if they think it comes within their powers. They are not concerned with the merit of the order and have no powers to change the decision.

The Local Ombudsman

8.9 If you have a complaint about the way the authority has handled the order the Local Ombudsman may be able to help.

But the Local Ombudsman cannot question the merit of an order or change the decision. You can get a booklet explaining how to make a complaint by writing to:

The Local Ombudsman's Office
Derwen House
Court Road
Bridgend
CF31 1BN