BAILIFFS have been called into action in the bitter Holmfirth Christmas lights row.
The historic Holme Valley Business Association (HVBA) owes former member Kath Smith £1,800 following a court case in September.
The court action came after the HVBA refused to refund Mrs Smith’s costs for arranging the 2006 display.
Mrs Smith sued them for almost £6,000 at Huddersfield County Court, but was only awarded £3,300.
The 100-year-old group was forced to pay half immediately and had 28 days to pay the balance.
But last week it emerged the HVBA had failed to meet the October 26 deadline and was trying negotiate a new weekly payment with the court.
The troubled association was already on its knees after membership dropped to just 20 and last week admitted it was operating without a president, a secretary or any vice-presidents, in violation of its own 2007 constitution.
An emergency meeting had been called for November 17 to try to elect new officers but it has since emerged the group is on the verge of winding up after its final serving member, treasurer Ailsa Booth, quit last Friday.
Mrs Smith said she had been open to negotiation and was still trying to communicate with the stricken group.
She said: “I’ve not fallen out with them, I went to their meeting last Tuesday to talk to them.
“They had agreed to pay me £150 a month and that was fine.
“But I’ve now been told they have no other choice than to go insolvent so I’ve sent in a bailiff.”
Former HVBA president, Clr Royston Rogers, who has stepped in to try and resolve the situation, denied the historic group was folding in a bid to dodge its debts.
And Clr Rogers accused Mrs Smith of disrupting the meeting and hampering his bid to keep the group afloat.
He said: “I’m trying to get people to support the Christmas lights and the association.
“We’re bending over backwards for her, but she’s not helping.
“She needs to leave us alone and let us get on with raising some money.”
Clr Rogers said he still hoped the HVBA could pay all its creditors and said they would be returning to court to re-negotiate the unpaid sum.
And he also confirmed he had secured the help of the Rotary club and the Holmfirth Lions and was hopeful the Holmfirth Christmas lights would go ahead.
All members of the Holme Valley Business Association are requested to attend the extraordinary general meeting on Tuesday November 17 at 7pm at the Old Bridge Hotel, in Holmfirth.
