BAILIFFS have been called off in the Holmfirth Christmas lights row – for now.
The Holme Valley Business Association owes former member Kath Smith £1,800 after she successfully sued them for unpaid bills for arranging Holmfirth’s 2006 Christmas Lights.
The 100-year-old group paid Mrs Smith half of the £3,300 awarded, but last month missed the 28-day deadline to pay the balance.
The troubled association was already on its knees after membership dropped to just 20 and had admitted it was operating without a president, a secretary or any vice-presidents in violation of its own 2007 constitution.
With fears the struggling group would fold, Mrs Smith issued a writ against them last week, but that has now been suspended until Monday after an agreement at Huddersfield County Court last Monday.
Former members of the collapsed group had hoped to arrange a monthly payment agreement and get a 14-day stay of execution.
But the judge told them he could not authorise it and they would have to reform if they wanted to apply for different payment terms.
The group now has until Monday to elect new officers before it can go back to court.
