Norfolk’s Queen Canute cannot turn back the tide of council tax demand

Thursday, October 25, 2012
4:08 PM

A battle over council tax between a determined north Norfolk resident and its district council has been settled in court.

Coastal erosion at Beach Road, Happisburgh. Bryony Nierop-Reading at her home. PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY

Bryony Nierop-Reading made national headlines when she dug in her heels and refused to sell her erosion-threatened clifftop bungalow on Happisburgh’s Beach Road to North Norfolk District Council.

The 67-year-old lives in the last remaining bungalow perched on top of the 80ft cliff after watching her neighbours’ homes demolished in April.

She bought the house in 2008 for just £25,000 and has rejected government money to leave her home because she loves it so much.

The grandmother-of-six had since become embroiled in a dispute over paying her council tax to the district council.

This morning at Norwich Magistrates Court a complaint was lodged by the district council for a council tax liability order to be issued to Mrs Nierop-Reading for the amount of £673.40.

The request was granted by magistrates after Mrs Nierop-Reading made a late decision to not speak in court.