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  "path": "/news/council-row-garden-centre-boss-devon-16-year-land-row",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-23T18:08:34.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Red Arrows now flying with reduced numbers amid 'ageing engines' as armed forces laid bare",
    "Sycamore Gap tree will be turned into 'people's tree' sound sculpture",
    "Aberdeen launches new electric bike scheme with free rides for residents",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nA Devon business owner has taken drastic action after what he describes as years without receiving any financial offer for his property amid a council-run land overhaul.\n\nTony Joyner, owner of Plants Galore near Newton Abbot, erected two large signs on land subject to a compulsory purchase order in an act of protest.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nHe said he had been \"incredibly patient\", but felt the signs represented his sole means of making his voice heard.\n\nThe dispute centres on a portion of Mr Joyner's land required by Devon County Council for its major A382 road improvement scheme.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\"It feels like nobody is treating it as urgent as it doesn't stop their plans,\" Mr Joyner said, \"my only way of protesting is to put the signs up.\"\n\nHe maintains he has \"never received a financial offer\" for the land, and Devon County Council declined to comment on the matter.\n\nThe origins of this dispute stretch back some 16 years to 2010, when Mr Joyner had just obtained planning permission for a prospective six-bedroom luxury family home on the contested plot, before learning of the compulsory purchase order.\n\nHe claims he was advised against constructing the property, as it would be excluded from any compensation settlement.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThis prompted the Joyner family to relocate to his parents' residence in 2014, where they constructed temporary accommodation - expecting payment to arrive shortly.\n\nFollowing a decade there, they ultimately moved to Torquay last year.\n\n\"I've had three children since this all began,\" Mr Joyner said, adding that his father, aged 75 when the saga commenced, passed away recently at 91 without witnessing any resolution.\n\nThe contested plot measures approximately 613 square metres, roughly equivalent to 0.15 acres.\n\n### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS\n\n\n\n\n  * Red Arrows now flying with reduced numbers amid 'ageing engines' as armed forces laid bare\n  * Sycamore Gap tree will be turned into 'people's tree' sound sculpture\n  * Aberdeen launches new electric bike scheme with free rides for residents\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nLand agents Stags took over Mr Joyner's case around eight months ago, and the business owner said paperwork had been received by his agent since the protest signs appeared.\n\nA notice to treat and notice of entry were reportedly issued in January 2024, permitting phone cable works on the site.\n\nTowards the close of 2024, instructions allegedly emerged to advance negotiations with the aim of agreeing compensation, though Mr Joyner alleges there have been \"deliberate delays\".\n\nApart from two on-site meetings with representatives during works, he claims he has \"never been invited to discuss a financial offer - ever\".\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nMr Joyner said he \"wanted a sensible outcome\".\n\nThe land forms part of a broader highways upgrade for the A382, encompassing the area at Forches Cross where the Joyners' business operates.\n\nFunding complications arose in late 2024 when the Department for Transport deferred major road network scheme funding ahead of that year's general election.\n\nDevon County Council submitted a revised business case in March 2025, which received DfT approval in July, enabling construction to commence in autumn of that year.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe scheme involves widening the carriageway between Stover and Forches Cross to boost capacity, reduce congestion and enhance safety, alongside new pedestrian and cycling infrastructure and a roundabout north of Forches Cross.\n\nOther affected landowners identified in 2015 documentation include Stover School, Stover Country Park, Stover Golf Club, mining company Sibelco, private residents and local farmers.\n\nThe golf course relocated several holes as a result of the works.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Garden centre boss takes drastic action after 16-year council land row"
}