An email circular was sent recently to those who receive the village updates.
For those who are not on the list this is the text of the email
Hello,
I think most of you are aware that the gypsies on the triangle have moved off the triangle at the entrance to the village.
They were issued with a stop notice by NYC to prevent any further work, this will be followed by an injunction.
This leaves us rather in limbo wondering what will happen next. I have been in touch with Jacob who owns the land and he is now willing to sell it to the village if we can raise the funds. He is asking £50k to which I replied not a cat in hells chance at which point he claimed he has some Irish travellers who will pay this amount. I asked what he paid for it and he claimed £40k, the Land Registry documents say £14k !
I think he has realised that the land is worthless and now wants to unload it so it is down to negotiation.
He claims NYC told him to put in for planning permission, I doubt it but I am trying to confirm this. He also says he has looked at Land Registry and there are no covenants on the land. There are covenants.
So what to do next. My thinking is that we should club together as a village and try to buy the land and transfer it to the Parish Council (who will hold it in trust). We will have to pay well over its value but I think it is worth it for peace of mind and to avoid a protracted legal battle.
Any money put in will be a gift to the village with no material return. To be able to do this I am asking people to pledge up to £1,000 (more would be great) but primarily an amount you feel you can afford. All donations no matter how much will help us to achieve our goal. Amounts pledged will remain confidential and not go beyond the Parish Council.
Once I know what we can raise I can go back to Jacob and make a sensible offer. Please have a good think about this and ask me any questions (sensible reply not guaranteed). We can then have a meeting in the village hall, possibly in about two weeks to discuss this and what to do with the land once secured.
Anybody able to pledge please contact me at Haven House, Tel 417321 or contact me by email at m.j.winterbottom@btinternet.com
Thanks
Mick Winterbottom
Chairman
Cropton Parish Council