MYSTERY surrounds why a pond in a residential area of Chineham has been put up for auction for £3,000. 

The 0.60-acre piece of land in Minden Close is being marketed by Allsop – an auction house in London – with a date for the auction set for February 16.

The auctioneers describe the land as triangular shaped with a pond and have included a guide price of £3,000.

It is not the first time land in Minden Close has been put up for sale.

READ MORE: Mystery auction of land in Minden Close pulled at last minute

In March 2020 the Gazette reported that another piece of land in Minden Close was put up for auction, leaving residents confused about why it was for sale and worried about the consequences.

However, the auction for the 6,023 square metres of land was cancelled the day before it was due to be held by Auction House London.

At the time, Cllr Paul Miller, borough councillor for the Chineham ward, told the Gazette that the land for sale was the layers below the Hampshire County Council adopted highway.

He added: “It’s a mystery why someone would want to buy it.”

SEE ALSO: Chineham road is up for auction for £5,000

The land in Minden Close was owned by Bilton Land Limited.

However, the company told the Gazette it no longer owns the land.  

The auction has sparked fears that the new owners could buy the land and charge residents for parking.

Amanda Owen, clerk to Chineham Parish Council, said: “Unfortunately, Chineham Parish Council are unaware of the reasoning why the land is for sale.”

She added that the council has "no ability" to look into the matter. 

Bilton Land Limited's website states that it owns and manages a portfolio of more than 100 residential estates comprising the former residential land developed by Percy Bilton Homes, once a significant nationwide house-builder.

It acquired the portfolio from SERGO Plc. It lists its key activities as disposing of residential land to third parties including adjacent home-owners; obtaining planning consent for residential development; and negotiating restrictive covenant releases.

A Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council spokesperson said: "This area of land at Minden Close is not owned or maintained by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and we have found no evidence that there is an obligation on the landowner to transfer this land to the council."

A Hampshire County Council spokesperson said: "We have looked into this and can confirm that the land in question is not in the county council’s ownership but is privately owned. Therefore, the county council has no comment to make."