GHF-E090-N07 — c. 30 April 1988: “Chainsaw farmer vows to fight on”

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A FARMER who beat-off bailiffs with a chainsaw last night vowed to continue his defiant fight for his Cardiff home. “I am here to stay and I will fight this to the death,” said Mr Bill Buckler after the four-hour showdown. Yesterday’s events began when five bailiffs and around 15 police officers arrived at Great House Farm, Llandough. Mr Buckler blocked the narrow drive with a tractor, locked the farmhouse doors and barred windows. “They smashed the lock on the gate and walked round the tractor,” Mr Buckler said. “Then they started smashing the doors with poleaxes. My children were right behind the door when the axe came through. That’s when I started my chainsaw and pushed it through the door. They backed off then.” His distressed wife, Branwen, later left the farm with the couples’ children, aged two, three and four. Mr Buckler and several friends and tenants remained. The scenes were the latest episode in a battle between the Buckler family and BP Properties. Mr Buckler said the farm has been in the family for nearly 400 years, and remains adamant he is the owner, despite a court ruling in favour of BP Properties. He said BP had no claim over the farm except for what they had obtained through the courts. “They have got no documents for it. If it’s theirs, why have I never paid a penny in rent for it in my life?” A farm tenant claimed the latest flare-up was brought about by the Cardiff Bay development. “This land would be worth a fortune,” said Mr Christopher Thompson. “Luxury houses could be built up here to overlook Cardiff Bay. The rich would get richer and the poor poorer.” A spokesman for BP PLC in London said the “unpleasant” events at the farm were regretted. He could not say if or when the bailiffs might return. He claimed the farm was owned by BP Properties, which allowed Mr Buckler’s late mother to live in it rent-free because of her ill health. “When Mrs Buckler died in 1983 it became clear her son was not going to leave,” said the spokesman. “We looked at the problem, which was a sticky one, and we asked him to leave, he declined, and in May 1984 we started court proceedings.” Mr Buckler lost the court hearing in Cardiff and did not appeal, the spokesman said. A South Wales Police spokesman emphasised the officers at the scene were present to prevent a breach of the peace, and not to assist bailiffs.

[Photo caption: A defiant Mr Bill Buckler . . . “I’m here to stay.”] [Companion photograph caption: Police wait outside the farmhouse during the four-hour showdown yesterday.]