Land For Open Spaces: Torquay Arbitration: “One of the Few Level Areas in the Town:” A piece of land which the Torquay Corporation proposed to buy from the Devon Rosery and Fruit Farm Co. Ltd., as a public open space, was the subject of an arbitration held by Mr. J. Willmot, of Birmingham, at Torquay Town Hall, on Friday. … long discussion … Mr. F. W. H. Pinsent, valuer, of Plymouth, called by Mr. Lhind Pratt, said that in a plan of the development of the land he had prepared, he had allowed for a road similar to that suggested by Adams. The difference was that it would be shorter and cost £1,295 instead of £2,000. He estimated the value of the land at £5,100. Asked by Mr. Lhind Pratt if he had been “niggardly” in his valuation, Mr. Pinsent said that he thought he had been “the other way.” In reply to Mr. Laskey, Mr. Pinsent said he agreed there was no area in Torquay comparable to the land in question. … … Mr. Laskey remarked that Torquay Corporation’s case was that the price of the land must be limited by a provision in the contract governing the development as to the type of house and number of houses to the acre in case the price fixed by the arbitrator was not acceptable to them. According to Mr. Pinsent, other areas at greater distance from the sea were valued higher than the land under discussion. It would be a gross injustice to his clients to accept Mr. Pinsent’s figures. The arbitration then closed.
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.
Referenced
GRO0322 Hennock: Francis Wingfield Homfray Pinsent: 1875 – 1948