EXCLUSIVE Furious villagers locked in bitter three-way legal battle over ancient grazing rights are 'left penniless' - while council, golf club and National Trust rake in £200,000 By Andrew Levy Published: 10:42, 19 September 2024 | Updated: 11:07, 19 September 2024 e-mail 2 View comments Aggrieved villagers are locked in a three-way legal battle over the loss of ancient grazing rights which they say has left them with just £100 income per year while their parish council, a golf club and the National Trust carve up more than £200,000 between them. Locals claim they were left the land by an 18th century landowner who went on to become the governor of Virginia in the USA. But a golf club was founded there in 1892 and the car park it runs earned £236,000 last year – with 20 per cent going to the National Trust, which says it owns land in the area, and another 20 per cent going to the parish council.
Residents living near the beachside spot at upmarket Brancaster in north Norfolk are demanding the proceeds are split equally four ways – but have run out of funds for the legal battle for now. They took Brancaster Parish Council to the small claims court for a test case on behalf of one common rights holder claiming £1,500 in 2022 but have now discontinued it after the judge bumped the matter to a higher court where they faced massive legal bills. Stephen Bocking, 74, and Chris Cotton, 75, are two of the Brancaster villagers who claim they should be properly compensated for.