A council leader has said his “hands are completely tied” after a conservation charity which leased and maintained coastal areas went into liquidation.
Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust chairwoman Barbara King said last week financial pressures had proven “too great” despite the team’s best efforts.
The trust had looked after nearly 80% of Torbay’s landscapes and more than 40 miles (64km) of coast paths and bridleways.
Torbay Council leader David Thomas said the council had “difficulty from a legal perspective” with accessing the land for maintenance reasons such as emptying bins.
Thomas told John Acres at Breakfast on BBC Radio Devon the council retained the freehold of the lands but they had been subject to a long-term lease with the trust.
He said the liquidator had not yet responded to the council’s communications but the authority was “committed to doing everything we can as soon as we can”.
“From a legal perspective we can’t do anything until we have a call with the liquidator,” he said.
“Unfortunately our hands are completely tied until we can have that initial conversation.”
He said the land value was “non-existent” and it would not be put up for sale as it was subject to Site of Special Scientific Interest designations.
