With Monmouthshire County Council as a neighbour, I have frequently had reason to write to MCC Planning Department. I have never received a reply to any of my letters.

During August 2015, I was surprised to learn that there is a council ombudsman and in March 2016, after 20 months of trying to see the plans for the new comprehensive school, I decided to write to the ombudsman. I called in at our local council “office” and asked for the address. They had no knowledge of the ombudsman but eventually found an address in Coventry. I sent my papers there but they were returned to me with an address in Wales where the ombudsman is hidden under the title “The Public Service Ombudsman for Wales”. I sent my papers on to that address.

The reply, I received from the ombudsman started by pointing out that she had no jurisdiction over the action of 21st Century Schools. I had not asked for that.

Her second point was that I should have exhausted my complaint procedure with the council and that that should take at least 12 weeks. How can anyone do that if the council doesn’t reply to letters.

The next point she raised was that she should have received my complaint within 12 months of when I became aware of “the matter complained about”.

The letters I had submitted to the council and also those of others I had asked to act on my behalf, showed that my complaint was ongoing. I don’t know when I became aware of my complaint even if she did!

She then told me that although my complaint had arrived late, she had the ability to waive the fact but she wasn’t going to. She also told me that even if I applied again to the ombudsman at a later date it would be rejected.

In the Beacon dated 15th October 2019, an MCC spokesperson said “Monmouthshire County Council works closely with the Public Services Ombudsman Wales”. It certainly seems to me that they do!

I was never able to see the school plans.

G Powell (Monmouth)