A Wiltshire man has threatened to “cause a scene” in an ongoing row over land with a major earthmoving and quarrying business.
John Hora has become locked in an escalating row with Bucklefields Business Developments Limited (BBDL), which is part of the Earthline Group, one of the UK’s largest earthmoving firms.
Mr Hora and his wife own land that is currently in use as a BBDL site on Bytham Road in Ogbourne St George, between Marlborough and Swindon.
The land was left to Mrs Hora by her aunt and is subject to contract stipulations that allow the tenant to renew their lease unless the landlord has statutory grounds to end ties.
Since 2022, the Horas have become increasingly determined to sell the site and want Earthline to vacate it.
But after a judge ruled against the couple, Mr Hora says he has been left trapped with unwanted industrial work on his land.
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Despite this setback, he is refusing to let the matter rest and has already carried out a one-man protest at the site while brandishing a stick, with plans to return.
He said: “The judge has given them the right to be there, but I won’t accept the rent, we don’t trust them and we don’t want them there.
“We want to sell the property, but we can’t with them on it, it’s very frustrating because we want to move and they’re stopping us.
“We have to get rid of them, I won’t take it lying down so I’ve been standing at the entrance trying to stop them.”
An Earthline spokesperson says its landlord Mrs Hora repeatedly refused to engage in the statutory renewal process, forcing the firm to take her to court.
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They added: “The lease has the benefit of the security of tenure provisions of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, which permit commercial tenants to renew their leases unless the landlord successfully opposed renewal on one of eight statutory grounds.
“BBDL had to issue a claim to protect its tenancy and to enable the court to determine the terms for its new lease.
“The Court has now determined the terms of the lease and authorised BBDL’s solicitors to execute it if Mrs Hora failed to do so.
“BBDL has lawful possession of the property due to its new lease, which has been granted in accordance with the order of District Judge Hatvany.
“Throughout this process, BBDL’s solicitors urged Mrs Hora to seek independent legal advice but she declined to do so.”
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