RESIDENTS living on a road where a piece of land including a pond was sold at auction have been reassured that the roads are adopted and maintained by the council.

As previously reported, a pond in Minden Close – a residential area in Chineham – was sold at auction for £3,000 to a mystery buyer.

The 0.63-acre piece of land was sold through Allsop – an auction house based in London – on February 16.

Read more: Pond in Chineham sold at auction for £3k to mystery buyer

The sale sparked fears that the new owners may start charging for parking or fail to maintain the pond.

Now, Hampshire County Council has confirmed that it has adopted the roads in Minden Close and maintains them. 

It added: “The county council has also maintained the pond, on a ‘without prejudice’ basis, as it takes water from nearby adopted highways.”

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

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.

See also: Mystery auction of land in Minden Close pulled at last minute

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.”

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