A COUPLE who are fighting to stop two councils from selling part of their garden are due to hear a decision over its fate today (Friday). Malcolm and Denise Thomas have claimed ownership of the land because they have fenced and maintained the site for mor

A COUPLE who are fighting to stop two councils from selling part of their garden are due to hear a decision over its fate today (Friday).

Malcolm and Denise Thomas have claimed ownership of the land because they have fenced and maintained the site for more than 12 years.

But both Norfolk and Cambridgeshire County Councils have objected to that claim - and now it is up to the Land Registry to decide who owns the land at Elm Low Road in Wisbech, part of the old Wisbech Canal site.

Shocked residents first heard about the proposal to sell the 0.9 acre strip of land back in April, and set about investigating their rights under the "adverse possession" provisions, because they had taken care of the land for many years.

If Mr and Mrs Thomas' claim with the Land Registry is successful, then several of their neighbours plan to make a similar claim.

The agents handling the sale have asked the couple what terms would be acceptable to settle the matter, so gardens pass into the undisputed ownership of the householders

On Monday residents affected by the proposed sale met, when it was decided that Mr and Mrs Thomas should continue to claim their garden land, and other residents will register a claim if that is successful.

"We offered to drop all objections to the sale of what remains of the old canal land once they agree not to object to our claims through Land Registry," said Malcolm. "We have also agreed to pay the cost of registering our land with the Land Registry, but not the council's costs.