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British Woman Helene Ball Wins Three-Year Legal Battle to Restore Garden Access
Helene Ball, an 81-year-old retired teacher from Matlock, Derbyshire, has won a three-year legal dispute against the county council after it installed a gate blocking her garden entrance. The council placed the metal barrier on April 26, 2023, preventing access that Ball and her family had used for over forty years. After spending approximately 50,000 pounds on legal fees, Ball successfully proved prescriptive easement rights through long-term usage. Judge Robert Brown ruled in her favor, criticizing the council's evidence as irrelevant and hostile. The ruling mandates the removal of the gate, compensation for Ball's legal costs, and the permanent restoration of foot and vehicle access to her property.
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