Many months ago a number of aggrieved property owners had this issue aired on Liveline. From all around the country people spoke from bitter experience of being caught up in the CPO nightmare. As I remember, there was very little follow-on. I dont know if it was taken up by any newspaper at the time but in the years this issue has been of interest, I dont ever remember seeing an article on this subject and the unfairness of the CPO system.
Once I saw a sign on a left-over piece of land after a CPO situation, obviously put up by a disgruntled landowner. I dont know whether it did his or her situation any good or not.
I dont believe there is any will within government to change the laws which currently apply to a more equitable one as ultimately, it would cost the government more to make fair compensation for land they compulsorily acquire. With many more by-passes planned, they dont want to face that.
The property owner has no say in the matter. If the local authority say they want a piece of property, they're going to have it. The property is not paid for on open market values, as any other piece of property would. Ridiculously, even though land is taken for a road project, unless the actual surface of the new road crosses that land, as opposed to say, verge, embankment or access to another piece of land, the value argued by the local authority is much less.
To me it seems as if the NRA, local authorities and so on have it all their own way. Because they are bureaucrats they have no personal interest or care in the wake every CPO process leaves.