FAMILIES claim they have been left in limbo after their front gardens were sold at auction.

Four strips of land in Marine Parade, Beck Road and Zider Pass in Canvey were sold at a London auction in February for £4,800 to a private bidder after Essex County Council put them up for sale.

Two months on since their front lawns went under the hammer and neighbours claim they are locked in an “anxious waiting game” as they still have no idea who won the bid and what lay in store for their gardens.

The matter is of a particular concern for neighbour Mark Durant, who is now technically trespassing on his front garden which is the only way he can access his front door.

Mike Bering, 61, of Marine Parade, said: “Poor Mark over the road has got to walk over that land every day to get to his house, and you never know the new owner could just turn around and forbid him access.

“Since the auction we have heard nothing from the council and are still none the wiser about who owns it. It’s just a waiting game to see who turns up and what they decide to do. The worst thing is, whatever happens we have no control over it and have to look down on it from our windows.”

Despite being located on three separate roads, the plots were sold as a single lot in the sale by Lambert Smith Hampton.
 

The four families, who had been renting the land for up to 25 years, rallied together to bid for the plots but were outbid but an unknown buyer.
 

Jean Graham, 65, of Beck Road, Canvey, said: “We are all really anxious to find out what’s going on. All we know was it was sold to a private individual. We wanted to try and buy it but there was a limit to how much we could afford especially considering solicitors fees and insurance which is a shame."

An Essex County Council spokesperson said: “Essex County Council is awaiting completion of the purchase through the buyer’s solicitors, and once the sale is complete the owner’s details will be a matter of public record at the Land Registry.

"In the meantime, the council provided the buyers’ solicitor’s details on 3rd April to a Canvey Island resident following a direct request. It is usual for the buyers to be represented by a solicitor or agent, and we cannot force a third party to talk to the residents.”