AFTER skilfully returning the Station House at Mossley to its former glory, Bob Barber's plan was to sell the historic house and go into property developing, but then he learned a harsh lesson early on.

Without a sale on the property he took the plunge and used saved capital to buy a terraced house at auction.

He said: "I'd already been to a couple just to watch, but I decided it was time to buy and I had checked out four properties near to the Velodrome where I work.

"The one I really liked in Clayton was the second lot on and I paid é44,000 for it.

Compulsory

"The next day I turned up ready to start and a neighbour told me they were about to vote for compulsory purchase and they were being knocked down.

"It was dreadful but really taught me the lesson that you have to do your homework and that if you ask the right questions the council is really helpful.

"All I could do was make the property safe and negotiate with the council, which has agreed to compulsory purchase it for é46,000.

"So fingers crossed I will get out of it and can put the last three months down to experience. But it hasn't put me off. I still think there will be a demand from runners and cyclists who want a nice property close to the sports facilities and I will be looking again in the New Year."

Meanwhile fingers crossed that an offer he has had on the Station House goes through to completion.

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