Couple heartbroken as Bodmin home faces being demolished
A couple have launched a desperate battle to save their dream home which has been earmarked for demolition – just six weeks after they bought it.
Alan and Vicky Glynn, both 69, were delighted when they purchased The Eaves, a smart five-bedroomed property in Bodmin.
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Vicky and Alan Gynn outside their home in Bodmin which may have to be bulldozed to make way for a new road
But just six weeks later, they received a letter from Cornwall Council offering to buy the house – but not specifying what it would be used for.
Vicky conducted her own inquiries and discovered plans for a relief road – not yet made public – would involve demolishing the house.
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The couple immediately informed the council they did not want to sell their home but the authority could still buy it through a compulsory purchase order.
A compulsory purchase order (CPO) allows authorities to obtain land or property without the consent of the owner – giving Vicky and Alan no choice but to lose their beloved home.
They have contacted their local MP and have pledged to do what they can to stop the demolition but fear it could be inevitable.
Heartbroken Vicky said: "We only completed on the house on October 31 and it's the home we've always dreamt of owning.
"But then we got this letter from the council which didn't say what they wanted it for.
"I was shocked to find out they want to knock it down for the new road – it's heartbreaking."
Vicky has contacted local MP Dan Rogerson for help saving their house from demolition.
The council could buy the house through a compulsory purchase order, which may be enforced if a planned development is 'for public betterment'.
"We have told the council's agents we do not want to sell the house, but because it is for a road scheme they could go for a CPO," said Vicky. "That would be devastating.
"We started renovating the new house for us to move in, but that has had to stop because of the uncertainty over what's happening."
The council is expected to go public on its plans for the road network in the new year.
Councillor for Bodmin East, Lance Kennedy, said: "There has been public demand for improvements to the road network and air quality in the town.
"A new scheme has been prepared by the council for consultation which will relieve traffic congestion in the town centre. It will improve the pedestrian experience in Bodmin and improve air quality.
"If, after public consultation, the scheme is approved, it will mark a significant investment in Bodmin and will prepare for future growth."
Comments
by Popzi
Tuesday, January 22 2013, 3:30PM
“It is the nicest house in bodmin how could ayone think of destroying it!”
by fullscott
Tuesday, January 01 2013, 2:03PM
“Surely Mr & Mrs Glynn employed a solicitor to carry out the customary searches when buying a property?
If they did, they need to take action against him/her.
Let this be a lesson to future house-buyers.”
by yorkie1957
Tuesday, January 01 2013, 9:34AM
“to add to my further comment,yes I do realise that our situations are not the same,with regard to our home not being subject to a CPO, but I often wonder whether the previous owners of our neighbouring, once lovely,cottage, pass by and shed tears for its demise. I fear these good people may do should they witness their home stand unloved,maybe for years until its demolition,if it were compulsorily purchased.”
by yorkie1957
Tuesday, January 01 2013, 7:54AM
“My heart goes out to you Vicky and Alan. In my experience you will be left in limbo for years,unable now to sell your beloved home and be unwilling,not surprisingly,to spend money on it. And I think that unless a scheme is in the planning process probably nothing will come up on the searches when you purchase. My husband and I are currently in a similar situation,although our house will not be bulldozed,heart-breakingly we will lose the majority of the features we purchased our 'forever' home for,including irreplaceable old trees and beautiful large mature evergreen shrubs on our boundary.with our garden also ruined to lay a new sewer pipe under it.We have endured years of surveyors trampling over our garden, have had to endure the decay in our immediate surroundings, have been refused a requested council tax reduction -despite having to live next door to a derelict, vandalised,council owned property for five years(to be demolished and replaced by a car park) and yet we still have no idea as to when this planning approved major construction scheme will go ahead, if it ever does. And your fight could be a long,lonely one.”
by First Impressions
Saturday, December 29 2012, 10:44AM
“I am pretty sure the previous owners were aware of this. I find it incomprehensible that the conveyancer acting for the buyers did not point this out. I'm sure the new owners of the property have a legal case here against the seller.”
by nick113
Saturday, December 29 2012, 7:38AM
“It's hard to believe that the plan for a relief road was a complete secret, even if the plans hadn't been released. Were any This is Cornwall readers aware of what was in the offing?”
by josdave
Friday, December 28 2012, 9:01AM
“I can't believe that six weeks ago nobody involved in the buying did not know about this. There must be a good case for them against nthe council and the solicitor who should have done a complete search as part of the the conveyancing process.”