TYWYN councillors are set for a legal battle to keep ownership of a chunk of land gifted to the town.

The land, about three football pitches in size, which was handed over to the town by the Corbett family in 1957, may be lost to the town forever because the owners of adjoining Ysguboriau farm and campsite are trying to claim it.

The land was bequeathed to the town as part of the 44-acre Ynysymaengwyn Estate – to be used for the good of residents of Tywyn and surrounding areas.

However the owners of Ysguboriau farm, which neighbours the Ynysmaengwyn estate, have been using some of the land for many years for grazing, and it appears they now believe they are entitled to the five to seven acres of ground through a law relating to ‘adverse possession’.

Effectively, if a party inhabits a registered patch of land for a certain period of time, with no complaints, then they can make a legitimate claim to that land.

Tywyn town councillor and trustee of Ynysmaengwyn, Cllr John Pughe, said: “I have no ill feelings towards Ysguboriau farm, but the land they are claiming should be for the benefit of everyone.

"It’s the community’s to access 24/7, 365 days a year, and they should be allowed to walk through without hindrance or obstruction.

“Ysguboriau farm has now fenced off a portion of this land and are claiming it as their own. The land registry, as far as I’m aware, clearly shows the boundaries of Ynysmaengwyn that was gifted to the town and the fences do not align.

“This may become a costly legal battle and end up in court, but the land has been gifted by the Corbett estate for free use of the town and we are prepared to fight to keep hold of vital community assets.”

Read the full story in today’s Meirionnydd edition of the Cambrian News