Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser | News | Council might have to pay for title deeds slip

Thursday, 28th August, 2008

Published: Wednesday, 30th April, 2008 12:00

Council might have to pay for title deeds slip

By Jamie MacDonald

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Council leader Janet Cadenhead.

CLACKMANNANSHIRE Council could end up having to pay twice for a piece of land in Alva they originally bought in 1982.

The land which was at 64/66 and 72 Erskine Street appears to have been bought by the council as part of the expansion of Alva Academy in the 1970s and 1980s although they never actually had the title deeds signed over to them.

The matter has come to light as the council is now preparing to sell the land at Alva Academy and without the Erskine Street plots they would not be able to obtain the full market value for the site.

At Thursday’s full council meeting, councillors were informed that the only records available from the time indicate a price was agreed but no actual proof of a transaction exists.

It is hoped that because the buildings were subsequently demolished this will be evidence enough to prove the ground was bought and paid for, with the failure to sign over of deeds just an oversight.

In the report presented to the council it states, “If it cannot be shown that a purchase price was paid then it may be that the council will now have to pay compensation.”

The land was previously owned by William Welsh, now deceased, and contact has recently been made with his son, who lives on the Isle of Man, requesting that he grant them title of the land.

Councillors and officers are hopeful that there will be no problems in receiving the deeds at no cost however they did concede it may be that money will have to change hands as part of a compulsory purchase order.

Council leader Janet Cadenhead said, “We are not giving a blank cheque to buy this piece of land.”

In February the council voted to enforce a compulsory purchase order to obtain land needed to provide car parking at the new Alloa Train Station after an extensive but unsuccessful search for the owner of a nearby 105-square metre plot of ground.

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