News RSS Feed Send your news, pictures & videos


Send Us News


£300k price tag for land Castle Point Council could have bought for just £18k

12:00pm Thursday 18th March 2010 in


PART of a public park has been put on the market for £300,000, after Castle Point Council failed to buy it for just £18,000.

Council bosses missed their chance to purchase the south-eastern corner of South Benfleet playing fields, in Ferry Road, three years ago.

It has since leased the land back from current owners AA Care Homes Limited for £500 a year.

The site is about 1,000 sq ft and was originally owned by British Rail, which was considering building a new platform for Benfleet station.

The land is being advertised for sale, with potential for a sports hall and club facilities, on website rightmove.co.uk Croydon-based property developers AA Care Homes want in the region of £300,000.

Brian Wilson, Labour councillor for St Mary’s Ward, has slammed the council for not buying the site when it had the chance. He said: “The council knew all about it. It discussed the matter and decided it wasn’t going to put a bid in for the land. It was a big mistake.”

Castle Point Council spokeswoman Carol Leach said the issue would be reported to councillors, so they could make a decision on what action to take.

But Andrew Roby-Smith, the council’s corporate land officer, suggested the plot has limited development potential anyway.

He said: “There is no vehicle access, other than across the playing fields. Other uses and permissions are strictly limited, subject to restraints concerning access on to and off the site. The sum paid by the purchaser three years ago was more than the council was willing to pay.”

Comments(9)

shortybells says...
12:08pm Thu 18 Mar 10

Is Brian Wilson up for election then?

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

mister strides says...
12:17pm Thu 18 Mar 10

maybe he's bringing The Beach Boys to Benfleet.

Would't it be nice?

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

lifelongislander says...
12:17pm Thu 18 Mar 10

If the Council leased the land back for £500 a year what have they been using it for, they are very good at that sort of deal - just look at Richmond Hall.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

DannyK86 says...
12:52pm Thu 18 Mar 10

£500 a year is a BARGAIN!

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Colleen G says...
2:49pm Thu 18 Mar 10

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. I'm sure many of us could have turned a pretty penny if we had invested in land and proerty years ago.

Another non story from the gECHO!

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

woodsman says...
5:18pm Thu 18 Mar 10

Yes he is up for re election! Wait a minute I see Bob Spink riding in to the battle he is setting up a party called save Richmond Green Fields!!!!!!!!!!!!!! his 5th party!

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Doughnut says...
8:03am Fri 19 Mar 10

No...Bob is starting up the Peoples Front of Castle Point this week, then the Castle Point Peoples Front next week. The Richmond Green Fields are splitters !!

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Cambrensis says...
10:51am Fri 19 Mar 10

Dave Blackwell is really Bandwagon Bob in disguise, or should be, there is not a fag paper between them. Both parties have the same colour scheme, same name and the same misguided views. Why is Bandwagon not fielding candidates on Canvey. Is there a secret pact between them? It certainly looks like it as the "parties" market themselves with the same colour. Come on this website Dave and deny you have had secret negotiations to share power. The people of Canvey have been sold down the river.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

VocalVoice says...
3:44pm Fri 19 Mar 10

Has anyone actually seen this piece of land??

As the man at CPBC says it has no access and the limitations on the land are ridiculous. Well done to the Council and poor poor show Echo for fobbing us off with yet another non story!

Me thinks you need to work harder!

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

More News stories


Unhappy – councillor Brian Wilson has slammed Castle Point Council for failing to buy the land at South Benfleet playing fields Unhappy – councillor Brian Wilson has slammed Castle Point Council for failing to buy the land at South Benfleet playing fields

Most popular







Local Information

Enter your postcode, town or place name

House prices »   Schools »   Crime »   Hospitals »

Local Businesses