Officers at Torfaen Council are reviewing records to find out how a park was put up for auction by a liquidator and plan to open talks to see how the situation can be resolved.
Earlier this week Cwmbran Life reported on Henllys Community Council’s latest meeting. In late August, councillors were taken by surprise when 0.8 acres of land between Tegfan Court and Henllys Way went up for auction on Rightmove on behalf of a liquidator with a guide price of £45,000. As you can see from the photo the site is a play area for local children, although a county council consultation took place in 2021 after residents raised concerns over its suitability as a park due to it being hidden from public view. There were also reports of anti-social behaviour.
Community councillors immediately contacted the county council and one of them (Cllr Valerie Waters) paid for a land registry search. They found the land is owned by David Mclean Homes Limited. A search on Companies House shows this company’s status is ‘liquidation’. Community councillors said that the documents showed the land should have been transferred and ‘adopted’ by Torfaen Council ‘within 18 months’ of 29 October 1991. This would have been around the time that the houses surrounding the park were built.
An added possible complication is Torfaen County Borough Council was formed in 1996- so it’s likely the ‘council’ referred to in the documents is the former Torfaen Borough Council. This existed as part of Gwent County Council, before local government reorganisation.
A Torfaen County Borough Council spokesperson, said: “The parcel of land forming the play area on Tegfan Way is owned by David Mclean Homes Limited, and play equipment was installed on the site when the properties in the adjoining development were completed.
“The Council has maintained the play equipment and play area for a number of years and has engaged with residents and Henllys Community Council on how we can improve and enhance the site for the benefit of our residents.
“The Council was made aware of the intention of the owner to dispose of the land and is pleased that the land has been removed from the auction pending further discussions with the Council.
“The Council is reviewing its records to assess the position and will be discussing the future of the play area with the liquidator’s representative in due course.”