Hurworth Parish Council to write off £17,000 debt after allotment holder declared bankrupt

Maureen Powles, from Hurworth, near Darlington, was told last year she would have to pay Hurworth Parish Council’s costs after she took it to court and lost following a long-running row over putting a summerhouse on her allotment.

She has now declared herself bankrupt – which means the council will have to write off the debt.

Ms Powles, 64, who no longer works because of her health, said: “I’ve never been in debt before. I’ve never even had a credit card. If I think about it I could burst into tears.

“Since 2017 it’s been all stress. It doesn’t stop at the allotment. I had to declare bankruptcy because I couldn’t pay.”

The dispute between the two parties has been ongoing since the middle of 2017, when Ms Powles started putting up a summerhouse which was larger than was allowed on her allotment in Strait Lane, with the intention that it could be used by her disabled friend, for whom she was also a carer.

However, she took it down after being made aware of the rules set by the council.

She then appealed for special permission to re-build the structure, but her request was refused

An independent review by Darlington Borough Council last year found the parish council had acted correctly in reaching its decision.

Maureen Powles, who has declared herself bankrupt after losing a court case against Hurworth Parish Council

Ms Powles responded to the decision by taking the parish council to County Court, alleging disability discrimination and injury to feelings.

Last February, a court ruled that the council had acted correctly and a court order was made for Mrs Powles to pay £16,897 of the defendant’s costs.

Ms Powles filed a petition for bankruptcy on December 7 last year.

Ms Powles, who has been banned from the allotments, said: "The allotment was like medicine for me. It kept my wellbeing up and it’s gone now."

She added: "I'm very sad that whole affair happened at all. To this day I can't help help my friend with his allotment.

"It (the summerhouse) should have been such a wonderful thing that could have given my friend more life."

A meeting of the parish council heard this month that the council would have to write off the debt of more than £16,837.

It said: “The allotment holder, who took the council to court and lost their case (the council was awarded all costs), has declared themselves bankrupt; the council was informed of this by the Insolvency Investigator.

“This council will now need to write off the debt of over £16,837.”

The Darlington and Stockton Times contacted Hurworth Parish Council but did not get a response.