A Brookswood couple who have been told that their children鈥檚 treehouse contravenes the have filed a complaint with the .

Richard and Haide Giesbrecht鈥檚 case is also being examined by the .

This is where residents turn to if they feel that a provincial government ministry or public agency has treated them unfairly.

The Ombudsman鈥檚 role is to impartially investigate a complaint to determine whether public agencies have acted fairly and reasonably, and whether their actions and decisions were consistent with relevant legislation, policies and procedures.

The Ombudsman鈥檚 office 鈥渉as started an official investigation,鈥� Haide Giesbrecht confirmed on Jan. 9.

Last summer, the Township鈥檚 inspection department .

The Giesbrechts, however, saw the treehouse, with its three ladders and a slide, not only as a bona fide play area for their children, but as place of refuge for their 10-year-old daughter who has sensory processing difficulties.

The Township ruled that the structure didn鈥檛 fit the conventional description of treehouse.

It was not built in a tree, but was actually a playhouse on top of a garden shed.

According to the zoning bylaw, accessory buildings such as detached garages, sheds, pool houses and playhouses cannot exceed 3.75 m, or one storey, whichever is less. The treehouse exceeds that limit.

The Giesbrechts lost an appeal to the .

In October, the couple took their case to council who turned it over the building inspection department. The Township will hold off enforcing the zoning bylaw until a report, which council requested, has been completed.