Residents in Palm Bay have rallied to buy a community green on the estate that has been put up for auction by developer Greenfurb – and are inviting other locals to get involved.
The plot at the rear of Sandhurst Road has been a green space for residents for more than 40 years but is set to go to auction next Thursday (March 20).
The 0.3 acre land is surrounded by houses and is considered a safe space for younger children to play.
Estate resident Martin Hughes has now helped organise a group to buy the land on behalf of the community and to set up a legal fund so if they are unsuccessful at auction they will have strong legal representation to monitor and force the new owners to respect all the protective covenants on the land.
He said: “This land is intended as a recreational space with public access, the covenants should ensure that it is properly maintained too.
“We intend to hold any eventual owner to the letter of the law with the potential of robust, pro bono legal representation.
“Local residents themselves are the best custodians to maintain and protect this land. We’ve been working with our councillor, Barry Manners, and the Friends of Botany Bay CIC to set up a fund for residents to buy the land at auction.
“If successful, the land will be transferred into a company and donors will become shareholders pro-rata according to their investment.
“It’s an opportunity for us as individuals to save a valuable piece of green, open space and, as shareholders, to have a say in its ongoing management as a community asset.
“Some investors have suggested an area of the land be maintained as a commemorative/ memorial garden. I think that would be a wonderful idea – and as a community owning the land we’d be able make these sort of decisions and work together to improve the space for youngsters, families and the elderly.
“We’re also looking at ways that we might improve biodiversity and manage the space to encourage learning of the natural environment.”
People who would like to help save the piece of land and become an investor, owning their own share of the plot, are asked for a minimum contribution of £50. This will be refunded if the group is not successful at auction.
If the bid is successful, people will be allocated pro rata shares in the company that will own and administer the plot on behalf of the community. Directors will be elected from among, and by, the community.
Martin says all investment will be in community and environmental protection – not for any financial return.
He added: “The land must not have any commercial value, so monies contributed will not be recoverable. We intend to keep this land as community space in perpetuity.
“There’s plenty of investment opportunities for speculators in this world. This little corner of Palm Bay is not one of them.”
County Councillor Lesley Game said: “Too much green space is being lost in Thanet and now land at the rear of Sandhurst Road, which has been a community space for over 40 years, is up for auction.
“Concerned residents have got together in an attempt to purchase the land to save it from development and I am joining them in this bid We need to fight this.”
The freehold for the 0.3 Acres of land is being offered by Auction House London with a guide price of £1,000 plus fees but this is expected to rise considerably as it also has a Buyers Premium of £900 and buyer’s admin fee of £1,500 as well as the potential for competing bids to raise the cost.
For more information about getting involved contact Barry on 07479 986688 or Julia 07817 654 959
Or go to https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/martin-hughes-5
Palm Bay residents upset at proposed sale of community and wildlife green on estate
NIMBYS ?
Would make a nice cafe or pound shop.
Or a Turkish barber!
I wish them luck. I know two other groups who successfully did something similar.