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Reform-led Derbyshire council bars journalist who exposed pensioner's garden blockade in free speech row

From the Newshound archive · first published 1 October 2026 · last updated 2 October 2026.

Eddie Bisknell, the local democracy reporter whose coverage of an 81-year-old's three-year garden access battle has prompted Derbyshire County Council to "end engagement" with him.
Eddie Bisknell, the local democracy reporter whose coverage of an 81-year-old's three-year garden access battle has prompted Derbyshire County Council to "end engagement" with him.
Helene Ball, the retired teacher whose £50,000 legal fight to reach her own back garden drew national and international attention after Eddie Bisknell reported her story.
Helene Ball, the retired teacher whose £50,000 legal fight to reach her own back garden drew national and international attention after Eddie Bisknell reported her story.

Derbyshire County Council, led by Reform UK, has confirmed it will "end engagement" with Eddie Bisknell, a local democracy reporter, following his coverage of Helene Ball — an 81-year-old retired teacher from Matlock who spent three years and £50,000 fighting to regain access to her own back garden. Deputy leader Stephen Reed described the story as "at worst irresponsible and at best an editorial opinion without all the facts," arguing it should not have been published while legal proceedings were ongoing. Ball's case attracted widespread attention, being picked up by national and international outlets.

Reed alleged the council had less than four hours before publication to address claims that it had 'bullied' Ball.

DerbyshireLive has stood by Bisknell, disputing the council's account of how much time it was given to comment.

The Reform-led council is facing accusations of attacking press freedom and democracy by moving against a BBC-funded Local Democracy Reporter.

MoreThe GuardianReform UK-run council boycotts reporter after row over potholesGB NewsFree speech row erupts after council bans journalist who revealed pensioner was blocked access to her own gardenEIN PresswireNUJ responds to Reform banning Local Democracy Reporter in Derbyshire - EIN Presswire
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