New Milton Town Council defeated in bid to purchase Robins Nest bungalow on five acres of land on Fernhill Lane to create extra playing fields

NEW Milton councillors lost in their attempt to buy a bungalow on five acres of land to create extra playing fields next to the town’s cricket club.

Robins Nest sits on a site, on Fernhill Lane, next to Fernhill Sports Ground where New Milton Cricket Club is based.

It includes land earmarked for formal open space in the New Forest District Council Local Plan.

As reported in the A&T, the town council held private discussions over the site, listed for sale by Woolley & Wallis. In December its guide price was £925,000, but this week it was £895,000.

The Salisbury-based auctioneers promote the property as in need of refurbishment or replacing.

The surrounding land, described as “pretty”, includes paddocks and several outbuildings “in varying degrees of disrepair”.

Councillors had agreed to make “an appropriate offer” to purchase the site for recreational purposes, funded by a PWLB (Public Works Loan Board) as appropriate.

However, a recent finance and general purposes committee private session heard the sellers would not be accepting the council’s offer.

Town clerk Graham Flexman told the A&T the council had been outbid on its maximum offer of £600,000.

“We own the land to the north of it, so it made eminent sense to purchase this site for playing fields,” he said.

“The town council has offered up to £600,000, which was as high as we intended to pay. We have to justify the amount to our ratepayers.

“It’s unfortunate, but these things happen. Other opportunities might arise in the future.”

F&GP members had recommended the town council take no further action at this time. Mr Flexman added he understood the site had since been sold.