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Efforts by campaigners to buy a local beauty spot have been given a boost after its sale was delayed at the last minute.
Bluebell Woods, near Llanbradach, was dug up by contractors last summer, despite there being no planning permission to do so – causing uproar in the community.
The land was due to be sold by Paul Fosh Auctioneers on January 31, with a guide price of £145,000 but a legal paperwork hold-up has meant the sale has been halted – for now.
Landowner Karl O’Dare was stopped by Caerphilly County Borough Council from developing the land and was told to restore it to its original condition. Instead he decided to sell it – with whoever buys it liable for its restoration.
Today, Monday January 30, campaigners trying to fundraise to buy the land themselves staged a peaceful protest outside Paul Fosh Auctions in Newport.
But instead of being met with hostility, they were invited in for a hot drink by the firm’s eponymous owner Paul Fosh.
Residents had been frustrated by the firm’s online listing making no mention of the obligation to restore the land.
The meeting
Five protesters met with Mr Fosh. These were Llanbradach councillor Colin Mann, who acted as a spokesperson for the group, as well as residents Christopher and Deborah Wright, and Ken and José Reynolds.
During the meeting, which was attended by Caerphilly Observer, Cllr Mann told Mr Fosh the campaigners’ concerns and that they wanted to buy Bluebell woods. With an online fundraiser and other donations, they have £20,000 so far.
Mr Fosh explained a legal pack – with confirmation of the land’s obligations and restrictions – was still to be sent from the seller’s solicitor. He said if the pack had not arrived, then the sale would be delayed – and it has been.
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“It’s just good to talk”
Following the meeting, Mr Fosh told Caerphilly Observer: “It’s just good to talk. I know the passion that exists amongst residents but I wanted to make sure it stays appropriate.
“I want people to be respectful and fair. They want fairness in the sale and I want fairness in communication.”
He described some of the comments aimed towards him and his business on social media as “quite hurtful” and added: “We do get involved in some controversial sales, that’s the nature of the business, but we do our best to be open and fair with people.”
Meanwhile, Christopher Wright criticised the landowner Karl O’Dare for a lack of engagement with the community.
He ssaid: “We don’t want to stop the sale of the land, we want an open and frank discussion with Karl O’Dare for an opportunity to buy the land at a reasonable price.”
However, Mrs Wright was less convinced after the meeting and said: “I’m not sure if we got anywhere – there’s still too much unknown [to potential buyers] about the land.
“As a community, we’ve done exceptionally well to get knowledge of the land out there.”
Mrs Wright appealed to the landowner and said: “We’re happy to speak with Karl O’Dare – we want to speak to him.”
Bluebells were “enough to keep you going”
Speaking of the impact Bluebell Woods had on the community, Mrs Wright said: “We would look forward to the time of year we could see the bluebells.”
Fellow resident Paulette Hurley spoke of the impact the bluebells had on the community and said: “On a bad day you could look up at the bluebells and feel better. It was enough to keep you going.
Meanwhile Alison Stallard, who started the online fundraiser, said: “I remember seeing a couple from somewhere in England who had come down to scatter ashes. They were looking for Bluebell Woods and had driven all that way. A number of people have done that – it’s a special place.”
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