CONCERNS raised by Chiddingfold residents about the “misleading” way local farmland is being marketed to potential buyers, has prompted Waverley Borough Council to take action.

Worried villagers contacted Chiddingfold Parish Council after fields in the green belt and an area of outstanding natural beauty recently sold by Prestwick Farm owner Paul Mills, were subdivided into smaller plots and advertised as possible housing sites and therefore investment opportunities.

Mr Mills is well-known for raising thousands of pounds for The Prostate Project, and the popular annual lambing days he held for the community at Prestwick Farm before he decided to retire and sell 60 acres of his land to London-based company Exclusive Property Sales.

Three, two-acre plots called ‘Upper Prestwicks’ which are up for auction by Barnard Marcus in three lots on Tuesday, November 14, were described as “freehold land development subject to planning permission” and accompanied by a computer-generated architect’s image of how a house would look on the site.

The guide price for each plot is £50,000-£75,000 and they are described as ‘currently laid to grass’ with ‘direct road frontage’ to Prestwick Lane.

The sales literature adds: “The land is offered on an unconditional basis only and while purchasers are deemed to rely on their own enquiries with regard to future development potential these details do provide an initial computer generated architect’s image for a single residential dwelling for each plot.

“Such development would be in keeping with the vernacular of nearby dwellings and also provide substantial amenity space with each plot being some two acres.”

In addition to the three, two-acre plots, another field off Prestwick Lane has been subdivided and is being marketed as 20, one-acre plots with asking prices ranging from £35,000 to £70,000 each.

A Chiddingfold Parish Council spokesman said: “It is obviously of considerable concern to local residents.

“The parish council is fully aware of the situation and will continue to monitor it.”

Parish council chairman Richard Hogsflesh told The Herald: “On a personal note, I feel very sorry for Paul. He is a long-standing member of our community and has contributed freely of his time and energy to many local causes.

“To see the land you have farmed for more than 30 years, and have sold in good faith, being split up into small plots and offered for sale must be very distressing for him.”

Mr Mills declined to comment when contaccted on the advice of his solicitor.

Responding to concern the sales pitch on some sites did not make it clear the sites were unlikely to get residential planning consent from the borough council planners, Waverley has taken preventative action this week.

A spokesman said: “The council has contacted the organisations marketing the land asking that they describe the land as within the Green Belt and and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

“The land is not allocated in the draft Local Plan.”

The way Prestwick Farm land has been marketed has echoes of a field next to Wood Farm near Milford Hospital, sold to English Land Partnership in 2004, which was subdivided and marketed as 230 plots, of which 123 were sold.

The legacy is a large tract of land with many different absentee owners, which has largely fallen into disuse.

Chris Jordan, who runs Allotmore, an allotments initiative, next to the plots said of the Milford experience: “Obviously, immoral gains for the perpetrators aside, it’s a shame that not only large spaces are lain to inaccessible wasteland through these schemes, but also, among those taking financial chances with the cash gamble on the plots, there are many investing family money.

“We heard some genuine upsetting stories of dashed inheritances and hopes to get on the property ladder.

“But it seem the authorities are still powerless once you’ve handed over the cash.”

The Herald contacted the new owners of the site but a member of staff said they did not want to comment.