OLYMPICS HOCKEY STAR LEFT WITH £1,500 COUNCIL TAX BILL BECAUSE SHE TOOK TIME OFF LAW DEGREE TO TRAIN FOR GAMES

FIRST PUBLISHED BY: THE MAIL ONLINE

THREATENED BY THE BAILIFFS: What a disgrace.  

Bristol University student Georgie Twigg, 21, spread the teaching of her final academic year over two to focus on a training for the GB hockey team. But she is now only part-time student in a house of six Bristol - leaving her liable for a hefty Council Tax bill on a property in band E, totalling £1,500


A young Olympic hopeful who took time out from her law degree to train for a place at the London 2012 games has been threatened by balliffs over Council Tax payments. Bristol University student Georgie Twigg, 21, spread the teaching of her final academic year over two so she could focus on a tough training schedule for the GB hockey team. But this loyalty to her country makes Miss Twigg the only part-time student in a house of six, in Clifton, Bristol - leaving her liable for a hefty Council Tax bill on a property in band E, totalling £1,500.


Bailiffs calling: Bristol University student Georgie Twigg, 21, spread the teaching of her final academic year over two so she could focus on a tough training schedule for the GB hockey team. Full-time students are exempt from paying Council Tax while they study, but as Miss Twigg only attends university for one day a week, she no longer qualifies for this bracket. Miss Twigg spends the other four days of her week training with her GB hockey team in Maidenhead, Berkshire - living in a property that she pays full Council Tax on.


She received a court summons after returning from Argentina in February, where her GB hockey team won a silver medal at the Champions Trophy for the first time. Miss Twigg, who carried the Olympic torch through Clifton, Bristol, earlier this month, contacted Bristol City Council to ask to be treated as a student as she does not have the money to pay the bill - but her plea fell on deaf ears.


The summons stated that because she was completing her final year in two years instead of one, she was classed as a part-time student and was no longer exempt from paying Council Tax, as full-time students are. Miss Twigg's parents wrote to the council, including to leader Simon Cook and chief executive Jan Ormondroyd to ask that she be made exempt due to her exceptional circumstances.


In action: Miss Twigg spends four days of her week training with the GB hockey team in Maidenhead, Berkshire - living in a property that she pays full Council Tax on. But the council told the family there was nothing it could do and demanded the money. At the start of this month, just as she was about to take her final law exams, Miss Twigg received a notice of 'intended bailiff action'.


Her father Robert Twigg, 57, said: 'We feel that Georgie has been penalised for trying to complete her studies while at the same time qualifying for the Olympic team. 'It can't be right that this charge wouldn't have been put on her if she had opted out of such a fantastic opportunity. 'Bristol City Council has been completely unsupportive and unreasonable - no-one seems to want to stick their head above the parapet and realise that these are exceptional circumstances - it just seems so wrong.'


Miss Twigg challenges with Ireland's Niamh Atcheler during their fifth/sixth place play-off in the Investec London Cup at the Quintin Hogg Memorial Ground in Chiswick, west London, earlier this month. A spokesman for Bristol City Council said: 'Unfortunately the law regarding Council Tax discount is quite clear and does not allow any leeway on the part of the city council. 'Miss Twigg forfeited her eligibility for the Council Tax discount when she reduced the number of days she was studying in Bristol.


'We have looked at this case sympathetically to see if there was any room for discretion on our part, given that she is about to represent the UK at the highest level, but regrettably there is none and we are bound by national legislation. 'It is a situation that can also affect other individuals who give up their time for good causes such as special constables and charity volunteers. 'We have offered as reasonable terms as we can for the repayment of the debt incurred. It goes without saying that we wish her all the best at the Olympics.'


READ WHAT: ERIC PICKLES ‘SECRETARY OF STATE’ SAYS ABOUT OVER-CHARGED COUNCIL TAX.


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