A homeowner trying to claim a reduction in his council tax bill because of the impact HS2 will have on his property was left frustrated after an appeal hearing was postponed with less than 48 hours' notice.

Tony O'Connor claims the value of his house in South Heath could be reduced by 28 per cent should work on the new high speed rail line go ahead.

He has been trying to appeal a decision not to have his council tax bill reduced as a result for ten months, since an initial hearing by the Valuation Tribunal Service rejected his claims.

An appeal hearing was due to take place on Thursday, February 5 - but with two days' notice it was postponed.

He was told an issue had been raised over the validity of his initial claim and subsequent appeal.

But Mr O'Connor said: "To get 48 hours' notice of postponement, when it's been going on for ten months, is either brinkmanship or incompetence. This is just a delaying tactic."

The basis of the Frith Hill resident's appeal was that "there has been a change in the environment which has had a detrimental effect on the value of the property, which is on the border of the safeguarded zone of HS2, with the line approx 125 metres from the property".

According to a letter sent to Mr O'Connor from HS2 Ltd, this relates to "the depreciation in value of an interest in land resulting from blight factors that are or will be a probable consequence of the construction or installation of a major national infrastructure project".

Correspondence sent to Mr O'Connor said his claim had "not been validly made because there has not been a 'material reduction' (i.e. a reduction in the size of the property or a change in the physical state of the locality) which means your proposal does not meet the requirements of the Council Tax (Alteration of Lists and Appeals) (England) 2009 regulations".

But as part of his appeal he pointed out South Northamptonshire District Council recently identified 450 properties which could have up to £50,000 shaved off their value, putting them into a lower council tax bracket, due to their proximity to HS2.

A letter to Mr O'Connor from John Parkin of the Valuation Tribunal Service said about the proposed appeal hearing: "It is my understanding that the Valuation Officer has raised an issue over the validity of your proposals. As such the only matter the tribunal would be able to determine at the hearing would be to determine if your proposal has been validly made.

"If the panel were to find the proposal was valid the case would have to be adjourned to another hearing for a separate panel to determine the correct valuation of your property. If the panel find the proposal to be invalid your appeal would have to be dismissed, you would of course then be able to consider making a new valid proposal."