CEREDIGION council has been made to pay £75 and apologise after a man complained to the Ombudsman over “lengthy delays” in dealing with an unauthorised development.

Ombudsman for Wales, Nick Bennett, in a report released last week, upheld a complaint by a man identified as Mr A that “he had not received a response to his complaint under Stage 2 of Ceredigion County Council’s complaints process over a three month period” in relation to an enforcement action notice.

The Ombudsman found that delays had occurred in providing Mr A with a response.

This was due to the “complexity of the matter and the council’s decision to obtain legal advice”, the report said.

“However, the council had not provided Mr A with regular updates in accordance with its complaints policy which had resulted in Mr A contacting the Ombudsman.”

The Ombudsman contacted the council about the matter who provided Mr A with a proper update.

The council also agreed to apologise to Mr A for the failure to update him and offer a payment of £75 in “recognition of the time and trouble caused to him due to this failure.”