Information Commissioner’s Office — correspondence with the family (email)

Sir/Madam, I am requesting your urgent assistance and referral to the appropriate oversight bodies regarding serious and ongoing difficulties obtaining historic records required for my family’s claim concerning Great House Farm (Tŷ Mawr), Llandough, Vale of Glamorgan. I want to be clear that I am not asking you to determine the underlying ownership dispute. That is a matter for legal adjudication. I am requesting assistance to ensure that the documentary evidence required for a fair legal determination is identified, preserved and made available. The Information Commissioner’s Office has advised that this matter requires referral through my Member of Parliament. Who doesn’t reply. The Llandough councillor doesn’t reply. I follow up monthly and nothing. [personal passage omitted — not about the farm case] After more than a year of attempting to obtain records through Freedom of Information requests, Environmental Information Regulations requests, archive enquiries and correspondence with relevant bodies, I have encountered repeated difficulties which are preventing proper assessment of my family’s claim. South Wales Police say they don’t hold records yet they were reported by ITV and other news outlets as being heavily involved in the dispossession of our land and home in 1988. Before our 80p year old home was abruptly demolished and our land and home since 1667 seized . Along with all our furniture, artwork etc, originally from Cardiff castle. Property and reference information The matter concerns: *Great House Farm / Tŷ Mawr* Llandough, Vale of Glamorgan Relevant Land Registry titles: – WA231076 – WA240304 Historic Ordnance Survey references: – [removed] There appear to be significant gaps in the documentary chain concerning the transition from historic family occupation, later possession arrangements, registration, and subsequent transfer of interests. My family’s understanding is that there may have been separate interests relating to the occupied farmhouse/plot and surrounding leased land. Clarification of the documentary evidence concerning historic title, occupation, registration and possession is therefore essential. A key unresolved issue is the evidential gap between historic occupation and the later registration position, including the documents relied upon when registration occurred and the subsequent handling of title documentation. I also note Marconi stayed with us while inventing radio. A Roman villa and monestry existed there too and has never been formally even attempted to be discovered. [personal passage omitted — not about the farm case] Fraud unravels all. And the limitation is from discovery not occurance of it. I alledge fraud. Fraud and consealment. BP should have least told the land registry we challenged their claim with our claim to the land. Records requiring identification, preservation and disclosure The records required include, but are not limited to: Land ownership and registration – The complete title registration files and supporting documents for WA231076 and WA240304. – Application documents submitted for registration. – Supporting deeds, conveyances, evidence of title, correspondence and internal notes. – Any records showing how historic interests were considered during registration. – Records concerning Western Ground Rents, BP Pension Trust Ltd and BP Properties Ltd. Court and legal records – Records relating to possession proceedings from 1955. – Records relating to the [removed] possession order. – Documents connected with: *BP Properties Ltd v Buckler [1987] EWCA Civ 2* Including: – pleadings; – exhibits; – correspondence; – administrative records; – any associated court documents. Occupation and possession records – Correspondence and documents relating to occupation/licence arrangements around 1974. – Records concerning communications with members of the Williams/Buckler family. – Notices, agreements, applications and internal decision records. Public authority and heritage records – Council records relating to Great House Farm. – Police records relating to events surrounding the property, where held. – Cadw records including: – inspection records; – listing consideration records; – photographs dated 29 July 1988; – demolition-related correspondence. – Archaeological records including: – 1978–1980 investigations; – 1994 excavations; – reports; – correspondence; – site records; – photographs. Demolition records All records relating to the demolition of Great House Farm in December 1988, including: – permissions; – correspondence; – photographs; – reports; – decision records. Concerns regarding record handling My concern is not simply that some records are unavailable. The concern is that repeated requests have resulted in responses which: – do not address the information requested; – answer different questions from those asked; – fail to explain what searches were undertaken; – state that records cannot be located without identifying where searches were carried out; – describe records as missing, unavailable or destroyed without explaining: – when this occurred; – under what retention policy; – who authorised disposal; – whether alternative copies exist. This creates a serious barrier to obtaining legal advice and pursuing a lawful determination of my family’s claim. Request for intervention I respectfully request assistance with: 1. Referral through the appropriate ICO escalation route. 2. Ensuring relevant public bodies conduct documented and comprehensive searches. 3. Obtaining explanations for any records stated to be missing, destroyed or unavailable. 4. Ensuring potentially relevant records are preserved. 5. Raising concerns regarding historic public record management with the appropriate oversight bodies. The relevant oversight routes may include: – Information Commissioner’s Office (FOI/EIR compliance); – Audit Wales (public body governance and accountability); – Welsh public services complaints mechanisms; – National Archives (public records management); – Independent Office for Police Conduct, where appropriate; – Any other appropriate authority where evidence indicates further action is required. Urgency This matter is urgent because the continuing absence of documentary evidence is preventing proper legal assessment of the claim. I am concerned that further delay may prejudice my family’s ability to seek legal remedies within applicable limitation periods. I can provide: – a complete chronology of requests and responses; – FOI reference numbers; – copies of correspondence; – evidence indexes; – supporting historical documentation. I request confirmation within 10 working days that this matter has been reviewed and that appropriate referrals have been made. Yours sincerely, Requester [personal passage omitted — not about the farm case] —- Appendix A — Great House Farm (Tŷ Mawr), Llandough — Evidence Access, Records and Disclosure Chronology Date / Period Event / Issue Records required / outstanding Relevant body / holder Disclosure concern 1667 onwards Family occupation and claimed historic interest in Great House Farm / Tŷ Mawr Historic deeds, title evidence, manorial records, estate records, occupation evidence National Library of Wales, Glamorgan Archives, private estates, Land Registry Documentary chain required to establish historic occupation and interests Pre-1876 Family occupation and relationship with surrounding leased land Lease documents, rent records, estate correspondence, maps Estate archives / Glamorgan Archives / NLW Need clarification of distinction between occupied holding and leased surrounding land 1876 Bute estate/Llandough Limeworks changes affecting surrounding land interests Conveyances, leases, maps, estate records Estate archives, NLW, archives Need clarification of land boundaries and interests created 1897 Marconi wireless telegraphy experiments at Lavernock Point; claimed Cardiff Post Office engineering connection Employment records, Post Office/GPO records, correspondence, technical records BT Archives / National Archives / GPO records Relevant historical context; records sought 1938 Auction catalogue referring to property and alleged “vacant possession” Auction papers, catalogue, purchaser records, correspondence Archives / estate records Clarification required as family occupation appears to have continued 1950s Alleged continued occupation and dispute over possession Rent records, notices, correspondence, court documents Landowners, courts, archives Evidence needed regarding legal basis of possession claims 1955 Possession proceedings Claim documents, pleadings, evidence, orders, correspondence Court archives Full records required [removed] Court file, order, evidence relied upon Court archive Need complete context and documents relied upon 1969 Western Ground Rents / BP Pension Trust involvement Conveyances, transfers, title documents, correspondence Land Registry, company records, archives Need chain of ownership/interests Early 1970s Alleged change in occupation/legal status Correspondence, internal notes, notices BP-related entities, council, archives Clarification of decisions affecting occupation 1971 Alleged Ordnance Survey descriptor changes OS historical mapping records and revision information Ordnance Survey Need confirmation of mapping history 1974 Licence/occupation correspondence involving “Mrs Buckler” All letters, agreements, internal correspondence, decision records BP-related bodies / council / archives Need clarification of legal basis and parties involved 1978–1980 Archaeological investigations Excavation reports, photographs, correspondence, site records Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust / RCAHMW / Cadw Complete archive required 1982 Land Registry registration Full application bundle for WA231076 HM Land Registry Critical issue: supporting evidence and documents used for registration 1982 onwards WA231076 title history Title documents, filed deeds, correspondence, applications HM Land Registry FOI confirmed registration but underlying evidence requires clarification 1980s Land Registry title changes / later title WA240304 Complete title history and supporting documents HM Land Registry Need complete chain 1987 BP Properties Ltd v Buckler [1987] EWCA Civ 2 Pleadings, exhibits, transcripts, correspondence, administrative records Court archives Required for understanding legal issues determined 29 July 1988 Cadw photographs/inspection material Photographs, inspection notes, listing consideration records Cadw Cadw confirmed photographs but wider record availability unclear 1988 Demolition of Great House Farm (December 1988) Permissions, notices, correspondence, photographs, reports Council, Cadw, archives Need complete decision trail 1994 Archaeological excavations Reports, photographs, archive material Archaeological bodies / RCAHMW Need complete record 2025–2026 FOI/EIR requests commenced All requests and responses Multiple public bodies Repeated issues with incomplete answers 2025–2026 Requests to archives, councils, heritage bodies, Land Registry and others Search records, explanations, retention policies Relevant organisations Need details of searches undertaken 2025–2026 Land Registry FOI response (reference previously noted: F260213) Registration confirmation and refusal of bundle disclosure HM Land Registry Need alternative access route to filed documents 2025–2026 Cadw correspondence Listing/demolition records Cadw Records reportedly incomplete/pre-digitisation gaps 2025–2026 RCAHMW correspondence Held archive material (14 archive items referenced) RCAHMW Need identification/access to all relevant records 2025–2026 Glamorgan Archives response Archive searches regarding demolition/legal records Glamorgan Archives Need clarity on search scope 2025–2026 Vale of Glamorgan Council responses Council records Council Need confirmation of departments searched 2025–2026 South Wales Police records request Incident/event records if held South Wales Police Need search explanation and retention information 2025–2026 ITV archive footage issue Broadcast/archive material relating to events ITV Need archive request route; not FOI-accessible 2026 ICO advice Referral through MP route ICO Escalation required Outstanding disclosure questions; What documents were submitted to HM Land Registry to create title WA231076? What evidence of title was accepted? What happened to any earlier deeds or documentary evidence? Why were some records unavailable when requested? Were any relevant records destroyed? If destroyed: when? by whom? under what retention policy? with what authorisation? Were duplicate copies retained elsewhere? Which departments, databases, archives and physical collections were searched? Who conducted those searches? Are any records currently subject to preservation holds?