Builder David Irving: 'Council has left me on the verge of ruin’

Oct 26 2009 by Sam Casey, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

AN EXPERIENCED builder claims he has been left on the verge of financial ruin by Kirklees Council.

David Irving, who has run Irving Construction for the last 20 years, said the council was refusing to pay him thousands of pounds for work he carried out on a house in Dalton.

Mr Irving, of Dryclough Road in Beaumont Park, said: “I’m finished if I don’t get this money, I’m out of business.

“I’m going to have to try to find this money from somewhere to pay the bank. It has destroyed me.”

Mr Irving, 41, was privately contracted by a householder in June to carry out £60,000 of work, including a two-storey extension and a conservatory, to a house at Ridgeway.

The owner was entitled to council grant funding because some of the work was for alterations to make it disabled-friendly, including a downstairs bathroom and toilet and disabled access.

Mr Irving said he was told 50% of the total cost would come to him from the council.

At the start of the project, he was given £25,000 by the owner and £10,000 by the council.

He later requested a further £10,000 payment from the council, but was told only £5,000 could be authorised at that time, which he said he would accept.