Legal disputes between the Council and H.W. Newman of Village Farm, Stagsden (1961-1985)

This is a series of files relating to the various legal disputes between Bedfordshire County Council and Harry W. Newman of Village Farm, Stagsden. The material is wide ranging but is chiefly concerned with Chancery Action 1969 No.1 (CS HWN/1); Dillock Lane footbridge (CS HWN/2); disputes over registration of Kempston Green as common land and over the course of various footpaths (CS HWN/3); and voluminous correspondence on a diversity of issues (CS HWN/4). A brief synopsis of areas covered is as follows:

Chancery Action 1969 No. 1: BCC regarded West End Road, Kempston as having an inclosure awarded width of 40 ft. However, the metalled road surface had a width of 20 ft. and HWN claimed the other 20 ft. width as forming part of his land which abutted the road and ploughed it accordingly. He also left drainage pipes and other material on the verge and this material was impounded by BCC and later returned. This prompted HWN to bring his Chancery Action to establish his right of ownership of the verge. He lost the case but won on appeal.

Arising from the above action HWN considered that evidence had been forged by BCC Officers and that transcripts of the hearing were corrupt. Much correspondence ensued on this matter.

The footbridge on Dillock Lane, running from Kempston Rural to Wootton was replaced by a wider bridge to which HWN objected as he said it encroached on his land. He cut the bridge in two and dumped half of it in County Hall car park. He was tried and convicted of causing criminal damage but refused to pay that part of the costs relating to the court record which he claimed was corrupt. For his refusal to pay he served 14 days imprisonment.

The alleged theft by BCC officers of a rare plant from Astey Wood owned by HWN

Opposition to the projected line of the Stagsden Bypass over HWN's land

BCC opposition to land in Kempston registered by HWN as common land and green

Disputes between BCC and HWN over lines of footpaths over his land and elsewhere in Kempston Rural

Claims of BCC involvement in the death of HWN's employee Ernst Barnieck (see Co/Inq 2/3/NB150) with subsequent alleged "cover up"

Alleged corruption and planning fraud within BCC

Alleged corruption within Bedfordshire Constabulary

Alleged masonic influent within BCC and Bedfordshire Constabulary

Alleged BCC Officer's involvement with supposed framing of James Hanratty and the "real identity" of the A6 murderer

Two assaults on HWN and subsequent alleged attempts to murder him

Alleged murders by BCC officers throughout the country

Alleged non-conformist and Roman Catholic conspiracies to destroy the Church of England and subvert the state

Alleged BCC officers' involvement with KGB schemes to subvert the state and aid a Russian invasion

Alleged BCC officers' involvement with IRA bombing incidents

Prosecution of HWN for a notice board in Stagsden on which he accused individuals of murder, forgery, perjury etc.

Alleged BCC officers' involvement in the Falklands War

<span class="wrapper"><p>Other material relating to disputes between HWN and BCC includes the following:</p> <p>CS 1000/144- correspondence re various highway disputes between HWN and BCC; 1969-80</p> <p>CS 1000/144/1- complaints from HWN to the Commissioner for Local Administration re highway issues; 1977-83</p> <p>CS 3355/2E/13- correspondence re FP11, Kempston Rural, and action M77013 HWN v BCC in Crown Court; 1977-81</p> <p>CS 3355/2E/13A-statements of witnesses and other legal documents re Crown Court case M77013; 1977-81</p></span>