16th October 2025
Romiley residents have formally reported Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council to a string of national watchdogs — including the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGO), the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP), Natural England and the Forestry Commission — amid a long-running dispute over council decisions affecting local woodland.
Campaigners accuse the council of failing to protect the town’s green spaces, poor communication with residents, and potential breaches of environmental protections. The complaints ask each body to examine the council’s conduct, planning decisions and any environmental impacts on designated wildlife sites.
What the residents reported — and who’s been alerted
Residents told us they are seeking three things from the different bodies they’ve contacted: an independent investigation of the council’s handling of the site, clarity over any planning/land-status decisions, and confirmation that statutory environmental protections were observed.
• The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGO) was asked to look at alleged maladministration and failures in process — the LGO is the independent service that investigates complaints about councils’ service delivery. lgo.org.uk+1
• The Office for Environmental Protection (the OEP) was asked to examine whether public-interest environmental law and obligations have been met by the council; the OEP holds public authorities to account on environmental matters. theoep.org.uk
• Natural England and the Forestry Commission were notified about potential impacts on wildlife, protected habitats and trees. Natural England provides statutory advice on England’s natural environment; the Forestry Commission oversees woodland protection and sustainable management. GOV.UK+2GOV.UK+2
Residents: “We want independent scrutiny”
“We’ve tried to get answers from the council for months,” a group spokesperson told the Gazette. “When we felt the responses were inadequate, we turned to the independent bodies that can examine what the council has done and recommend action.”
Stockport Council’s complaints process
Stockport Council publishes guidance on how to make formal complaints about council services and social care; the council’s complaints pages set out routes for complaints and contact points for adult and children’s services. The Gazette contacted Stockport Council for an on-the-record comment about the referrals; the council’s public complaints guidance confirms how residents can raise issues and how the council responds to complaints. Stockport Council+1
What the watchdogs can (and cannot) do
Each organisation has a specific remit. The LGO can investigate maladministration and poor service; the OEP can assess whether public bodies complied with environmental law and policy; Natural England can provide statutory advice, and the Forestry Commission can investigate potentially unlawful tree felling or failures to follow forestry regulations. None of these bodies act as a criminal prosecutor — although their findings can lead to enforcement action, remedial orders, or (in some cases) referral to other agencies that can impose sanctions. GOV.UK+3lgo.org.uk+3theoep.org.uk+3
What happens next
If the watchdogs accept the referrals they will normally acknowledge receipt, assess jurisdiction, and then decide whether to open formal investigations. That process can take weeks to months depending on complexity and caseload. The Gazette will continue to follow the story and publish updates once any of the bodies announce they are investigating or if Stockport Council issues a formal response.
Want to read more or get involved?
If you’re a local resident with information or documents relevant to the complaint, the Romiley Gazette would welcome contact. For anyone considering making their own complaint to the LGO or environmental bodies, the LGO and OEP publish guidance and contact details online. lgo.org.uk+1
— Romiley Gazette
