Residents at Lossiemouth Bay Caravan Park claim they are being “bullied” out of their homes by new owners.
The park was bought by national chain Park Holidays UK as part of a £9 million deal in June after previously being owned locally.
In the few months since, the new owners have made their presence known to residents, reportedly handing out a 24-page leaflet full of their new rules and regulations.
In what one owner called a bid for “total uniformity”, they have been asked to rip up their gardens, take down hanging planters and bird feeders and fork out thousands for new plastic decking to replace wood.
Empty sites are now competing with caravans to rule the park, with more owners packing up every day.
Residents were previously under the impression they could keep renewing their licenses each year for as long as they wanted to, but they say Park Holidays UK has now called time at 10 years.
The firm says it has extended the period to September next year for “most” residents as a “gesture of goodwill”.
However, anyone wanting to stay longer has reportedly been told to “upgrade or get off”. If they can’t afford to pay for a new Park-approved caravan, which one resident said started at around £40,000, the latter is the only option.
Moray MP Douglas Ross has met caravan owners and is due to take their case to talks with Park Holidays UK this week.
Here are the stories of those whose lives are being uprooted with their caravans.
Ian and Jean Bancroft
Ian and Jean Bancroft have been living happily for most of the year at Lossiemouth Bay Caravan Park for a decade.
The 80-year-olds said they have been given until March to get off the property.
The couple, whose caravan is still in pristine condition, said they cannot afford to buy a new unit and will have to look for a sheltered or council home.
Mr Bancroft was stationed in Kinloss during his time with the air force and finally felt settled in Lossiemouth after years of being away from his family.
He said: “We were advised that if we wanted to stay on the park we’d have to upgrade.”
Mrs Bancroft added: “I had a lovely garden and that was the first thing that had to go, they said only six pots.”
She held back the tears as she explained they both struggled with their health and sleeping in the months after the fate of their lives at the park was sealed.
The Bancrofts agreed, as did other owners, they felt “talked down to” when dealing with Park Holidays and that no representatives from the company had come to talk to them personally.
They are determined to fight for their right to stay.
Angela Haytack
Angela Haytack fought through the pandemic as a key worker. After new ownership took over, she was hoping to move her caravan of nine years to another park, until she saw the price.
“I’ve been trying to find somewhere else to go but they’re wanting £20,000 to put your caravan on a pitch, I can’t afford that,” she said.
Mrs Haytack said most people who have a caravan at Lossiemouth Bay Caravan Park chose the location for the calm surroundings: “You’re up here just minding your own business, you want a quiet life.”
She is one of many who received a letter from Park Holidays UK informing her that she needed to upgrade her caravan or leave the site.
The letter, seen by The Press and Journal, said: “I regret to inform you that we are unable to renew your pitch licence for the 2023 season.
“We consider many factors during our review process however pitch availability and demand are important factors.
“Where viable, we will consider licence extensions for owners, like you that have been loyal customers over many years however we are unable to offer a licence extension on this occasion.”
The letter added that the company would “help you make the necessary arrangements to remove your holiday home from the park.”
Linda Cameron
Linda Cameron is a central member of a group of caravan owners who are fighting for their right to stay in the park and questioning the new rules that have been put in place.
She has only had her caravan since 2019 and doesn’t live there full-time, but loves having it as an escape.
“We’re all feeling bullied and pressured, they’re taking away the peacefulness we all enjoyed whether people lived here or were just up for the weekend,” she said.
“We will stand up for what we believe in and for our rights. We will take this as far as we can, we are not going to let a big American company come in and ruin people’s quiet lives.”
Anonymous
One caravan owner, who lives most of the year at the park, said the site has “made a lot of money” out of her in the last ten years.
She has watched owners come and go, but said a core group of people who have been there as long as she has is starting to crumble.
“It’s a shame to see all the originality going, I feel really sad for everyone,” she said.
“What they are doing is disgusting, it’s bullying.”
The 78-year-old was reduced to tears as she asked: “Where am I going to go? Someone needs to tell me where I can go.”
Hamish Cartney
Hamish Cartney and his wife only bought their caravan in April this year, just weeks before the new owners took over.
They claimed that, at the time of purchase, there was no mention of the chance of new ownership or a massive overhaul in the park rules.
New rules prohibit the use of washing lines, gardens, chip pans, fixed telephone lines, gravel, kites, ornaments, plant pots and fences.
Gordon McCrae
Gordon McCrae lives in one of the park’s lodges, so while he is not at risk of the “upgrade or get off” message, he wants to support other owners.
Mr McCrae laid artificial grass on his plastic decking after a slip and fall made him struggle to walk for two days.
This is now not allowed so will need to be taken down along with his washing line and plastic shed.
“This grass here, I paid £600 or £700 for it for my own health and safety because it’s the only thing that stops you from slipping,” he said.
“Last week one of the neighbours burnt their feet on the plastic because it gets absolutely roasting.”
Mr McCrae said he pays £4,000 for site fees each year, but claims communal grass areas are not maintained, the park’s internet does not work and many streetlights are broken.
Owners are not allowed to have mail sent to them at the park, meaning some have missed vital hospital appointments and bank correspondence.
When Mr McCrae went to ask a team member a the park office where his mail had gone, he claims they produced two boxes of unopened mail addressed to residents.
‘They’re being intimidated’
Moray MP Douglas Ross visited Lossiemouth Bay Caravan Park on Monday to meet with residents at risk of having to leave the park.
He said the topic of the park’s new owners and its future had come up multiple times in his surgeries in recent weeks, adding that residents in Burghead have similar concerns.
“Coming down here, going into people’s homes and speaking to them, you can see the impact it’s having,” he said.
“People are worried, they’re frightened, and from what I’ve been told they’re being intimidated.
“This has worked very well for many years, people are happy with what they get here, you can see the condition of the vans and the sites are pristine. People look after their area and they care for it, there’s no reason why they should be forced out.”
Mr Ross called Park Holidays UK’s behaviour “unacceptable” and is to meet with the company on Thursday to share owners’ views with them.
In full: Park Holidays UK’s response
In response to complaints from residents, Park Holidays UK confirmed owners whose licences have come to an end will no longer be able to review it annually without upgrading their caravan.
A spokesman said: “When customers originally bought a holiday home at Lossiemouth Bay Holiday Park, they signed a contract which specified the number of years they would be permitted to occupy the pitch in the holiday home they were buying. For a number of customers, that period is now approaching its end or, in some cases, ended a few years ago and they have been allowed to remain on an annually renewed licence.
“We have therefore written to all these customers advising them that their licence to occupy the pitch will come to an end on March 31, 2023.
“However, as a gesture of goodwill we have decided to extend to these customers the benefit of our group’s Covid 19 support package which recognises that many owners were unable to use their holiday homes during lockdowns, and can therefore claim a six-month extension of their licence after it ends.
“Most customers will therefore be able to remain on the park until September 30, 2023.
“When the licence period expires, customers can sell the holiday home or relocate it to another park not owned by Park Holidays UK. However, for many owners the preferred option is to part-exchange it for a new or newer model.
“Park Holidays UK will always endeavour to extend preferential buying terms to such customers, such as a generous part-exchange valuation, or a discount on a new or pre-owned model.
“For the buyers of new caravan holiday homes, Park Holidays UK provides a 20-year occupancy licence, or 30 years for a holiday lodge. If a pre-owned holiday home is bought, the customer is usually provided with a licence equivalent to the 20 or 30 years less the age of the holiday home.
“The licence agreement is consistent with the wording in the model contract provided by our industry body, BH&HPA, and widely used throughout the parks industry. It also includes the important provision that the holiday home can not be used for residential purposes, and the buyer must provide us with regularly verified evidence of a permanent address elsewhere.
“We are very grateful for these owners’ loyalty over the years, and will give every assistance possible to helping those who choose to do so to acquire a replacement holiday home and continue enjoying stays at Lossiemouth Bay Holiday Park.”
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