Politics · United Kingdom · 3 hrs ago
Emails show Derbyshire council tracked son amid dispute over his mother's gate
Helene Ball, 81, lives in Matlock, Derbyshire, and has used a route from her garden to a council-owned car park for nearly 60 years.
In 2023, the council put a fence across her garden gate, starting a legal dispute over her right to use the route.
A judge ruled in her favour, and the access was added to the land deed.
The council was ordered to pay about £50,000 in costs and ensure her access was not blocked again.
Weeks after the judgment, the council placed 54 large concrete blocks outside her home.
Emails disclosed after a data request show a council officer told staff not to give her son, David, records and to report when he visited and what he asked for.
David had been researching the case for his mother, and said he felt sick when he learned his visits and requests had been tracked.
Emails show a Derbyshire County Council officer told staff not to give David Ball documents and to report his visits to the council record office.
The emails were disclosed after Ball made a data subject access request.
Ball had been researching a legal dispute on behalf of his mother, Helene Ball, over access through a garden gate in Matlock.
Helene Ball won the dispute, and a judge ruled that her access rights should be added to the land deed.
The council was ordered to pay about £50,000 in costs and ensure her pedestrian and vehicle access was not impeded again.
- Who
- Derbyshire County Council and David Ball, who was researching the case for his mother, Helene Ball.
- What
- Emails show a council officer instructed staff not to give Ball documents and to report his visits and information requests.
- When
- The emails concern the dispute and Ball’s visits; the fence was installed in April 2023.
- Where
- The council record office and the Ball family home in Matlock, Derbyshire.
- Why
- Ball was researching his mother’s legal fight over access from her garden through a gate to a council-owned car park.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Helene Ball began living at her home in Matlock.
Ball returned home to find a metal fence installed across her garden gate.
Helene Ball began a three-year legal fight with Derbyshire County Council over access.
The council was ordered to pay about £50,000 in costs and ensure access was not impeded again.
Helene Ball found 54 concrete blocks outside her home.
- Council
- Derbyshire County Council
- Family home
- Matlock, Derbyshire
- Fence installed
- April 2023
- Blocks
- 54 giant concrete blocks
- Legal costs
- About £50,000
- Access history
- The family said they had used the route for almost 60 years
What people are saying
This is Derbyshire, not North Korea. No resident should ever find themselves being monitored by their own council for simply asking questions.
When I received the Subject Access Request material and realised they had been tracking my visits, sharing my emails, and accessing my private information, my stomach sank – I felt physically sick.
Sources
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