A COUNCIL being sued by one of its own members has expressed fears that the case could cost the taxpayer £100,000.

Haltwhistle Town Council was rocked in November last year, when nonagenarian Coun. Jean Belger issued a writ against the council in a row over the Old School Playing Field.

The site, which is also known as the Burn Field, has been used as a football field for decades.

But it is also a registered village green, and Coun. Belger believes recent maintenance work to improve the football pitch is in breach of village green legislation.

Legal proceedings are under way against the town council and Haltwhistle Swimming Pool and Leisure Centre, which jointly carried out the work to re-seed the playing surface and improve drainage.

Chairing Monday’s meeting of Haltwhistle Town Council, Coun. Alan Sharp said the council was currently awaiting correspondence from its solicitor.

Coun. Graham Ridley said: “If we lose, we are talking about £100,000 which is an enormous amount of public money.”

Coun. Belger, who was not present at Monday’s meeting, has previously insisted she is not against the playing of fooball at the Burn Field.

However, she believes the recent maintenance work is unlawful, and wants time restrictions on the use of the site for football in the interest of its village green status.

The council insists that the work was carried out in good faith and in accordance with regulations, in the best interests of improving football provision in the town.

Members agreed to establish a small working group of four councillors to liaise with solicitors on the case.

Coun. Margaret Forrest said: “Coun. Belger’s correspondence says she is representing the inhabitants of Haltwhistle with this legal action.

“I have heard from people keen to stress that she is not representing them, and that they want something in writing from her solicitor stating that.”

Coun. Sharp said many people in the town, including councillors, did not share Coun. Belger’s views.