Hemsworth sports site group in 'debt' clash
AN action group set up to protest against the sale of Hemsworth Sports Complex has denied it still owes the town council almost £6,000 in legal fees.
Hemsworth Community Action Group hoped to stop Hemsworth Town Council from selling the Kirkby Road complex to fund a new community hall and replacement sports facilities.
But their application for a judicial review into the sale was dismissed last year by a High Court judge, who ordered the group to pay the town council's legal costs of 2,850 plus VAT.
That amount was paid, but the protest group also appealed the judge's decision – a challenge which its members later decided to drop.
The town council has said despite the appeal not going ahead, it is still owed 5,865 for the cost of employing a solicitor and barrister to prepare its case against the action.
But the protest group is disputing the town council's claim.
Jim Kenyon, 55, of Grove Avenue, Hemsworth, was instrumental in setting up the group and applying for the judicial review. He said: "We paid the initial amount the judge said we had to and thought that was end of it. We dispute the fact we still owe another 5,000.
"We've asked for proof we owe it and for a breakdown of what the money was spent on but we've had nothing."
Town clerk Tina Pattison said: "When we were notified about the action group's appeal and were given a date for the High Court we had to employ a barrister to deal with it. The 5,865 was to pay for this barrister and other legal fees associated with the appeal.
"They have had breakdowns and everything they've asked for. Our solicitor even wrote to their solicitor to reach a compromise, but we never heard back.
"We have now gone back to the High Court to try and recover this money."
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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