Council ordered to pay £50,000 after blocking pensioner's garden access

Summarised from 3 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 23 Sept, 04:38 · Archive

An 81-year-old retired teacher won a tribunal case against Derbyshire County Council and was awarded £50,000 in costs.

Helene Ball from Matlock secured victory in a three-year legal dispute with Derbyshire County Council after it cemented a metal fencing panel into a gap in her rear garden wall in April 2023. The council was ordered to pay £50,000 in legal fees. Days after her tribunal win, concrete blocks appeared outside her home, which Ms Ball described as 'beyond childish'.

How it is being reported

• Council row erupts after local authority blocks pensioner's garden gate with two concrete blocksA council row has erupted after a local authority has blocked a pensioner's garden gate with two concrete blocks. Helene Ball, 81, from Matlock has branded Derbyshire County Council's conduct "beyond childish" after discovering the bricks positioned outside her home. This happened just days after she triumphed in a three-year legal dispute with the authority. The former teacher secured victory at a first-tier tribunal last week, with the council ordered to pay £50,000 in costs following its decision to obstruct a gateway in her rear garden wall. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Ms Ball found…GB News · 22 Sept, 22:39
• Gran, 81, hits out at Reform's Derbyshire County Council as 'Lego-style' blocks appear outside homeHelene Ball, a grandmother of four, previously won a tribunal restoring rear access to her home in Matlock, Derbyshire, and the council there was ordered to pay around £50,000 in legal feesThe Mirror · 22 Sept, 22:12
• Retired teacher, 81, scores common sense victory over council 3 years after it blocked her garden gate - only for it to drop more 'concrete Lego blocks' outside her homeHelene Ball accused the council of pettiness after it put the 2ft blocks along a narrow wall near her home following her legal victory.Daily Mail · 22 Sept, 16:25
• 'Childish' council ordered to pay £50,000 after blocking pensioner's access to own gardenA council has been ordered to pay £50,000 after blocking a pensioner's access to her own garden. Helene Ball, 81, from Matlock, emerged victorious from the legal dispute with Derbyshire County Council. The former teacher took the council to court after an incident in April 2023. Council operatives arrived at her home in April 2023 and cemented a metal fencing panel into position, effectively blocking a gap in the wall that had served as her garden entrance for decades. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Ms Ball launched a legal challenge, presenting evidence to a first-tier tribunal that she…GB News · 21 Sept, 11:28

In this story: Helene Ball · Derbyshire County Council · Matlock

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