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

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 22 Sept, 16:37

A council has been ordered to pay £50,000 after blocking an 81-year-old pensioner's garden access.

Helene Ball from Matlock won a legal dispute with Derbyshire County Council after the council cemented a fencing panel into position in April 2023, blocking a gap in a wall that had served as her garden entrance for decades. The Daily Mail reports the council subsequently placed concrete blocks along a wall near her home.

How it is being reported

• 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 homeDaily Mail · 22 Sept, 16:25
• 'Childish' council ordered to pay £50,000 after blocking pensioner's access to own gardenGB News · 21 Sept, 11:28

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

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem