Refuge is owed £40,000 by council - claim

Dec 14 2005 By Tony Deeley, Birmingham Mail

A LANDLORD has lodged a claim against Dudley Council for more than £40,000 in alleged unpaid bills owed to his refuge charity over the last three years.

Lew Foley, founder of the Black Country-based Princess Diana Refuge House No 1, submitted the high court writ at Dudley County County at the Waterfront in Brierley Hill.

He said it related to alleged unpaid bills by the council from February 2003 up to date in respect of disabled tenants accommodated by the charity at three refuge hostels.

Mr Foley, a former lifeguard with the Household Cavalry, claimed the amount was owed for rent and bed and breakfast accommodation.

He said the costs were incurred in housing about 30 tenants - including one asylum seeker - at properties in Gill Street and Springfield Crescent, Dudley and The Longcroft, Halesowen.

Mr Foley claimed he had been forced to pay the money from his own pocket and had reached breaking point in his attempts to reclaim it.

He was planning to return to the court on Tuesday to ask for an early hearing of the case.

Mr Foley, who founded the Princess Diana charity 11 years ago, said he had invoices to back up his case.

"I have been humbling to the council to get some money from them for the past three years and have finally lost my patience. Enough is enough.

"I have had to pay this money out of my own pocket and I want it back. I have to pay my way as well."

Mike Williams, the council's director of finance, said he was unaware of the writ being issued.

"We have dealt with all of the benefit claims from Mr Foley's tenants in accordance with benefit regulations," he said.

"If Mr Foley's tenants are dissatisfied they have a right of appeal to the Independent Benefit Appeals Service. I am not aware of any outstanding appeals."