NEWS that a Ledbury town councillor will use money donated through crowd funding to fight her legal battle with the town council has met with a strong but mixed response from local people.

Some members of the public have dug deep, in support of Cllr Liz Harvey, while others have suggested that the money would be better off going to charity, or the town.

Pauline Powell, posting on the Voice of Ledbury Facebook site, said: "Can you believe it, people are donating? Has the world gone mad?"

And Maggie Davies added: "What a joke, I pay my bills; she can pay hers."

Ann Beard said she would rather burn her money than donate.

And Wendy Powell said: "Think what good that money could do for dementia or cancer sufferers. Just a thought.

"Shouldn't she pay out of her own pocket as it is basically just a civil dispute between two parties? If you had a dispute with a neighbour, it wouldn't and shouldn't use crowd funding. It's immoral. Crowd funding is for deserving causes or people in genuine need, not what is basically a petty argument which has got out of hand."

Becci Potter said the crowdfunding for Cllr Harvey was "ridiculous" and she added: "If I ever wanted to take someone to court, the councillors would donate money for my cause? No didn't think so; this money being raised would be of more use put into the town."

But other people disagree and already £2400 has been raised towards a target of £5000, although Cllr Harvey's actual legal costs could top £60,000, as stated on the Crowdjustice page.

Carl Hoboman said: "I've just pledged a fiver; sorry I can't give more."

Edward Ebden said: "I have contributed a small amount and I hope others who care can do likewise."

And Bunny Hartwell said: "Wasn't Liz Harvey found innocent of bullying by Herefordshire Council? There's lots of us who think she's being bullied because she's worried about the way the town council is being run."

Cllr Liz Harvey launched a Judicial Review after being found guilty by the town council, under employment law, of bullying town council staff. Cllr Andrew Harrison was also found guilty of bullying staff under the same process.

But a separate Code of Conduct investigation, by Herefordshire Council, found that neither Cllrs Harvey and Harrison had been in breach of the Code, which covers how councillors must treat others.

Cllr Harrison, who has not launched legal action against the town council, said this week: "I can state categorically that I did not bully or harass Ledbury Town Council staff. The allegations against me were dismissed after an exhaustive official independent investigation."

Cllr Harvey said: "The CrowdJustice campaign has my full support. Lots of people locally - and many from further afield - have expressed concern about what has happened to me here in Ledbury. They also have recognised the wider threat that such behaviour poses to local democracy. These people have asked for a means by which they can contribute towards the cost of my legal challenge.

"I do not want or expect other people to pay for the entire cost of this action. However, where people wish to associate themselves with the issues at stake, a service such as that offered through CrowdJustice, is a regulated, recognised and respected way in which to enable that support to be given in an open and transparent manner."

Cllr Harrison, added: "The Judicial Review will potentially deliver a landmark ruling concerning the independence and integrity of councillor conduct. Liz Harvey’s action has been courageous and principled. I hope people will support her crowd-funding campaign."

The Judicial Review, which should have been heard in Bristol, on March 1, was postponed because of bad weather.

When it resumes, it will look at the process followed by the town council in finding Cllr Harvey guilty of bullying staff.