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Fleur de Lys caravan park launches “adverse possession” bid for neighbouring land through Land Registry




A HISTORIC New Forest pub looks set to battle with a neighbouring caravan park which is claiming neighbouring land.

The owners of Fleur de Lys residential caravan park on Pilley Hill, between Pilley and Boldre, have applied to the Land Registry for adverse possession. This allows the claim of ownership on another person’s land after openly using it for a period of years, usually around a decade.

But supporters of the neighbouring pub – also called the Fleur de Lys – claim the land has been used by pub patrons since the 11th century and is still in use today for car parking.

The disputed land is to the right of the Fleur de Lys pub and in front of the Fleur de Lys caravan park (picture: Google)
The disputed land is to the right of the Fleur de Lys pub and in front of the Fleur de Lys caravan park (picture: Google)

One also maintains the land actually belongs to the pub.

The objector, who did not want to be named, told the A&T: “It’s not the correct address [on the application] as the land is part of the original site of the Fleur de Lys pub car park, not the caravan site.”

The objector said he had evidence of sale paperwork from 1991, adding: “The subject land was accidentally not conveyanced to Enterprise Inns PLC when Whitbread PLC, who inherited the land with the pub from Romsey and Co Brewers, sold their entire pub’s portfolio – therefore it should have remained the property of Whitbread PLC.

A labelled Google Maps picture showing the Fleur de Lys pub and caravan park, and the outline of the disputed land
A labelled Google Maps picture showing the Fleur de Lys pub and caravan park, and the outline of the disputed land

“Just because land is not registered does not mean it is not the possession of another. The entire site and the pub is an asset of community value and should not be taken by others without due process.

“There has been parking on this land as patrons of the Fleur de Lys pub since the 11th century. The land is the property of the owners of the Fleur de Lys pub and is not available for possession by others.”

A notice of application for adverse possession of land in Pilley
A notice of application for adverse possession of land in Pilley

A Forestry England spokesperson said the land in question does not belong to the Crown, and the landlord of the Fleur de Lys pub has declined to comment on the application.

The A&T has also approached the caravan park owners for a comment.

The adverse possession notice, seen by the A&T, states: “The applicants claim to have acquired a title to the land by adverse possession. A copy of the statement of truth or statutory declaration [has been] lodged in support of the application. If the application is approved the applicants will be registered as proprietors of the land.”

The notice continues: “Adverse possession can mean the loss of land, and the law in this area is particularly complicated, so (the applicant) should consider taking legal advice.”

The adverse possession application comes after the caravan park was allowed by NFDC planners in May to keep a 12th caravan on its site despite “thoroughly enraging” residents.

Objections to the adverse possession application must be made to the Land Registry by noon on 5th November.



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