City faces legal action over release of land
Portsmouth City Council has been threatened with court action if it does not back down over a row concerning public land.
Qinetiq is offering 75,000 to use council land as an access road so it can build 131 new flats at the former Fraser Gunnery Range site, Eastney.
But after two years of wrangling an agreement over the 33ft-wide strip of land – between Fort Cumberland Road and Lumsden Road – has yet to be finalised.
Now secret papers obtained by The News reveal that Qinetiq will mount a legal challenge if things don't go its way.
Council solicitor Tony Margrave has warned councillors that the cost of the legal action would be in the region of 35,000 if it used in-house legal services and at least 100,000 if it hired a junior barrister and QC.
Delicate negotiations were almost derailed at a recent meeting of Portsmouth City Council's executive committee.
Qinetiq put down a last-minute offer to allow full public access to Eastney nudist beach, which it owns, in return for a quick resolution to the issue.
Naturists have been worried that Qinetiq bosses will kick them off. But Lib Dem councillor Eleanor Scott questioned the ultimatum which was on offer for one day only.
She said: 'This is a cynical, manipulative, unpleasant and offensive offer.
'We are bending over backwards to get a deal here – that is what the public want.'
Commercial director for Qinetiq Stephen Sheridan responded: 'A lot of hostility has been expressed towards Qinetiq at this meeting but we have negotiated and made offers in good faith and are trying hard to find a solution to this issue.'
He eventually extended the offer until next month.
Qinetiq and the council will next discuss terms at a public meeting held on January 18.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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