RDC Solicitors in the news!

RDC Solicitors offered free representation to a couple who have been trying to buy their rented garden for almost three decades after reading their plight in the Telegraph & Argus. They may now finally get their wish after Bradford Council confirmed a deal to sell them the land.

David and Josie Boothroyd say they have maintained and cared for the garden next to their home in Summerbridge Drive, Eccleshill, for more than 35 years, first approaching the Council to buy it in 1989.

In September, the authority put the land up for auction and it was sold for £20,000.

But the deal fell through, prompting fresh hope that an agreement could be made.

The land has a covenant on it allowing it to be used as a private garden only, and Mrs Boothroyd, 63, said it was thought to be the site of the Eccleshill Holy Well.

Mr Boothroyd, 67, said: “The gentleman who put the highest bid in for the garden at the auction came to see us to let us know he was pulling out, and that he thought it should never have gone to auction but should have been sold direct to us.

“We contacted the Council explaining that as the sale had fallen through we still wanted to buy at the value of the land as garden.

“After a review, the Council have offered to sell us the land and we have accepted.”

The couple, who had been concerned that anyone who bought the land would try and lift the covenant and use it for building, are being represented free of charge by Chris Jones, of RDC Solicitors in Bingley, who took on the case after reading about it in the Telegraph & Argus.

He said an application to remove VAT on the land was in, and the contract for the sale was in place, adding that he hoped to have the deal done by the end of January.

The Boothroyds had stated that the Council had already placed a value on the land, thought to be between £2,000 and £2,500, prior to the auction taking place, and that they were happy to buy at that price.

“We hope very much that nothing will crop up to prevent the sale to us,” said Mr Boothroyd.

“All being well, we should hopefully complete some time in January.

“I’m sure it will happen, but we don’t want to say for definite and push our luck. It will be nice from everyone’s point of view when it’s all done.”

A spokesman for Bradford Council said: “A sale of the land to the Boothroyds has been agreed and is currently in the hands of solicitors.”

Article by Rob Lowson, Telegraph & Argus Reporter