£300k price tag for land Castle Point Council could have bought for just £18k (From Echo)
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£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)
mister strides
says...
12:17pm Thu 18 Mar 10
Would't it be nice?
lifelongislander
says...
12:17pm Thu 18 Mar 10
DannyK86
says...
12:52pm Thu 18 Mar 10
Colleen G
says...
2:49pm Thu 18 Mar 10
Another non story from the gECHO!
woodsman
says...
5:18pm Thu 18 Mar 10
Doughnut
says...
8:03am Fri 19 Mar 10
Cambrensis
says...
10:51am Fri 19 Mar 10
VocalVoice
says...
3:44pm Fri 19 Mar 10
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!
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Unhappy – councillor Brian Wilson has slammed Castle Point Council for failing to buy the land at South Benfleet playing fields
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shortybells says...
12:08pm Thu 18 Mar 10