Businessman Robert Stone has accused a council of "profiteering", by trying to charge him 30 times more than what he was told a patch of land is worth.
Mr Stone, managing director of Powerbond Adhesives, has made the accusation about Stoke-on-Trent City Council in a letter sent to the Local Government Ombudsman.
The complaint to the political watchdog comes after more than 10 years of wrangling over a patch of land next to his plant in Scotia Road, Tunstall, where he wants to expand his business.
Mr Stone says he has had the 3,300 sq ft site valued at just £500 by Butters John Bee (BJB). But the city council wants up to £15,000.
Mr Stone said: "I lost the battle for a fair and amicable conclusion to purchase this land, develop my business and possibly create jobs, long ago. This council has demanded up to £15,000 for a piece of land, which due to its size and location cannot be developed by anyone else, and therefore has been independently valued at just £500.
"This council is unbelievable. I paid for an independent survey, but the council wouldn't accept it. How can the two figures be so far apart? The site at present is a hot-spot for anti-social behaviour. It is all a waste of public money and I'm now thinking of moving out of Stoke-on-Trent to the borough of Stafford.
"The city council is taking jobs away from people. If I can expand I will create more jobs; only four or five to start with, but from small acorns mighty oaks grow."
In his letter sent to the ombudsman, Mr Stone accuses the city council of "profiteering by demanding up to £15,000 for land that has now been independently valued at just £500, and therefore stifled business development and employment in Stoke-on-Trent."
Mr Stone says he was initially quoted £15,000 for the land, when negotiations were first started in the late 1990s. He did agree to pay £8,500 for the site, where he wanted to extend his current car park and build a warehouse.
Mr Stone submitted planning applications in 1998. But the proposal never went before a council committee because planners said the site was not suitable for Mr Stone's purposes.
According to council correspondence, Mr Stone re-approached the council in 2004 about buying the land, but was told: "As the figure of £8,500 was agreed nearly 10 years ago and values had increased, the sale price would be subject to re-negotiation."
The valuation given to Mr Stone by BJB, says: "I place the market value of the freehold interest in the property with vacant possession at the sum of £500."
Mr Stone says his costs over the years in relation to the land are £1,752.
A letter sent to Mr Stone by city council manager Steve Robinson, says: "The figure of £500 suggested by BJB is extremely low and doesn't take into account the value to any adjoining owners, and is simply the price that might be paid in isolation by someone with no adjoining land."
A city council spokesman said: "A complaint concerning this piece of land has been sent to the Local Government Ombudsman and we are investigating in line with the ombudsman's requirements."
Source: The Sentinel
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