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'Buy new caravan or leave' say new site owners
CARAVAN owners at a beauty spot have spoken of their anger after being given an ultimatum by the site's new owners.
Caravanners at Chantry Retreat, in West Witton, near Leyburn, have been told they must either pay £55,000 for a new static caravan or leave the site after new owners moved in.
Park Leisure 2000, a York-based company which recently bought the site, told the caravanners they were transforming it into a five-star luxury retreat, and that older caravans would not be welcome.
About 25 caravan owners on one field of the site have been given until January to find a new pitch as the first phase of the redevelopment began. The 125 remaining caravan owners fear they could be next.
Some have been using the site for more than 15 years. Pat Ryan, from Marton, near Middlesbrough, has had a caravan on the site for 18 years.
She said: "It used to be a very natural caravan site, just a beautiful part of the Dales. We never had any club houses or shops, it was just some where for walkers, older people and young families. I loved being there.
"Now, they are going to put huge vans everywhere, tarmac all around the field and put in an artificial water feature. But why, when there are plenty of God's own natural features in abundance around the site already? It is going to be like suburbia."
After seeing her parents moved out of the site by Park Leisure 2000, Fiona Hill, from York, said that moving the caravan was not an option.
She added: "These people are being left with something absolutely worthless. It costs thousands to move a static and then you're not likely to find somewhere that takes older caravans. It seems that there are elderly people being exploited and not being given the rights they should be."
Local ward councillor Howard Thomas said it was a shame for those affected, who contributed to the local community as well as the economy. He added: "I feel the utmost sympathy for these people but I don't know how you could possibly fight it, other than take it to court, which would cost lots of money."
Park Leisure 2000 declined to comment.
5:15pm Tuesday 4th December 2007
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CommentPosted by: Chris, Leeds on 5:05pm Sun 9 Dec 07
This is an absolute outrage and cannot be allowed to happen. Chantry is a peaceful and beautiful caravan park. It does not need (and the residents do not want) this development to take place.
The cavalier attitude of the new owners is disgusting and does not consider the financial losses, pain and anguish that this decision will cause for the poor residents being forced out. I would urge everybody affected to contact the MP for the area and to not give in without a fight.
This is an absolute outrage and cannot be allowed to happen. Chantry is a peaceful and beautiful caravan park. It does not need (and the residents do not want) this development to take place.
The cavalier attitude of the new owners is disgusting and does not consider the financial losses, pain and anguish that this decision will cause for the poor residents being forced out. I would urge everybody affected to contact the MP for the area and to not give in without a fight.
Posted by: Maureen Jones, Essex on 9:44am Mon 10 Dec 07
We can sympathise with Chantry caravan owners as we had a similar thing happen at Westholme Caravan Park, Aysgarth. A company called Darinian Ltd bought the site and at the end of September (with 4 weeks to the end of our season) 14 of us got a letter asking us to vacate the site and get the caravan off. There was no option to buy another caravan in fact the owners have not been in touch since this first letter. Word is that lodges and statics are going on there. Everyone on the site was devastated. It was awful at the end of the season when we had to say goodbye to all of the friends we had made. Some of the owners had been on the site for 20/30 years. We had been there for 9 and as we drove up from Essex to be in the Dales, which we love, it has completely changed our lives as B & B every couple of weeks would be too expensive. We shall visit the Dales as often as we can but it seems so wrong that a company with money can ruin so many people's lives. The YDNP will not be the same if much more of this happens.
We can sympathise with Chantry caravan owners as we had a similar thing happen at Westholme Caravan Park, Aysgarth. A company called Darinian Ltd bought the site and at the end of September (with 4 weeks to the end of our season) 14 of us got a letter asking us to vacate the site and get the caravan off. There was no option to buy another caravan in fact the owners have not been in touch since this first letter. Word is that lodges and statics are going on there. Everyone on the site was devastated. It was awful at the end of the season when we had to say goodbye to all of the friends we had made. Some of the owners had been on the site for 20/30 years. We had been there for 9 and as we drove up from Essex to be in the Dales, which we love, it has completely changed our lives as B & B every couple of weeks would be too expensive. We shall visit the Dales as often as we can but it seems so wrong that a company with money can ruin so many people's lives. The YDNP will not be the same if much more of this happens.
Posted by: Fred Gordon, England on 9:01pm Wed 12 Dec 07
I was a resident at chantry for 10 years, and saw quite a few changes when it was in the ownership of Scotts, then Morphet and then Darling. The management of the site was during my tenure Michael and Margerat who developed the site to tone in with the Dales scenery.
I realise that the new owners will not give a jot about the area, although when I was there the Yorkshire Dales National Park had to be satisfied that the natural surroundings were taken into account. The park had a licence for 150 static caravans, and I suspect that the new owners are to invest in the site, to reap as great a return on capital invested, regardless of present owners terms and condition. This is also happenning in many places in the UK and legislation should be put in place to protect the present and prospective owners. It is a scandal on the scale of the time share rackets of a few years ago.
I was a resident at chantry for 10 years, and saw quite a few changes when it was in the ownership of Scotts, then Morphet and then Darling. The management of the site was during my tenure Michael and Margerat who developed the site to tone in with the Dales scenery.
I realise that the new owners will not give a jot about the area, although when I was there the Yorkshire Dales National Park had to be satisfied that the natural surroundings were taken into account. The park had a licence for 150 static caravans, and I suspect that the new owners are to invest in the site, to reap as great a return on capital invested, regardless of present owners terms and condition. This is also happenning in many places in the UK and legislation should be put in place to protect the present and prospective owners. It is a scandal on the scale of the time share rackets of a few years ago.
Posted by: G R Hughes, Westholme Park Aysgarth on 7:28pm Mon 18 Feb 08
Sent: Saturday, January 05, 2008 10:18 PM
Subject: Westholme
Darinian Westholme Ltd 35 Langdale Road
Step Business Centre Runcorn
Wortley Road Cheshire
Sheffield WA7 5PU
S36 2UH 05/01/2008
Ref Pitch 22
Fao J Barlow
I am writing to return the enclosed invoice for pitch fees at Westholme Park Aysgarth.
As you may see from the names on the invoice, it refers to two different people. I have therefore returned the invoice so that the correct information can be put on it. I do not wish to pay somebody else’s bill and end up in arrears.
I must also express my disappointment at the lack of communication from your company since your take over in August. The first contact the resident’s had was at the end of September, with the arrival of short notice evictions for all owners of vans exceeding 10 years. To date this invoice is the only letter I have had from your company, and that was wrong.
I would also like to know what your plans are for the park, as it now looks like a derelict building site. I took the opportunity to take a trip last weekend to the site to check my caravan and the view was not a pretty one. The appalling conditions of the areas vacated by the removed vans was distressing to my wife and I, after 20+ years of being on the park to see the site in this state was a shock.
At least Quintain Holdings had the decency to meet the residents to tell them of their plans for the park. Their plans was for work during the closed season, when can you inform us of your intentions, your strategic plan and what the affect will be on the remaining residents on the park. What will be the timetable of the work starting and the times of the working day? As the park reopens in a matter of 8 weeks the last thing we want is to wake up to the noise of construction traffic. Will there be a reduction in the site fees for loss of the ‘’Peace and Quiet’’ you quote in your brochure, as a bonus to your future tenants
What security arrangements are to be put in place to supervise these transient visitors to our site and protect our property?
What Risk Assessment and Environmental Impact Assessments have been done to ensure the Safety of the residents on the site and the Public using the Right of Way through it?
What is the purpose of the 4 caravans that have been in left front of the club house since the beginning of October? They do not conform to the Yorkshire National Park colour code.
Will there still be Touring van’s and tents on site during this season How will you protect children with visiting families?
I also see that the park is being advertised by Hoseasons as an ‘’ALL YEAR SITE’’ which, I believe is against the local Bye Laws. The previous manager allowed large groups of people to use the rental vans; they parked 3 or 4 cars at each one and blocked access to the resident’s caravans. This should not be allowed to happen. This has always been a quiet, tranquil family site and everybody knew each other and looked after each others vans.
I believe others have had had little response to letters sent to this office. May I take this opportunity to thank you for your time and attention to this matter and look forward to your prompt reply
Yours sincerely
G R Hughes
Sent: Saturday, January 05, 2008 10:18 PM
Subject: Westholme
Darinian Westholme Ltd 35 Langdale Road
Step Business Centre Runcorn
Wortley Road Cheshire
Sheffield WA7 5PU
S36 2UH 05/01/2008
Ref Pitch 22
Fao J Barlow
I am writing to return the enclosed invoice for pitch fees at Westholme Park Aysgarth.
As you may see from the names on the invoice, it refers to two different people. I have therefore returned the invoice so that the correct information can be put on it. I do not wish to pay somebody else’s bill and end up in arrears.
I must also express my disappointment at the lack of communication from your company since your take over in August. The first contact the resident’s had was at the end of September, with the arrival of short notice evictions for all owners of vans exceeding 10 years. To date this invoice is the only letter I have had from your company, and that was wrong.
I would also like to know what your plans are for the park, as it now looks like a derelict building site. I took the opportunity to take a trip last weekend to the site to check my caravan and the view was not a pretty one. The appalling conditions of the areas vacated by the removed vans was distressing to my wife and I, after 20+ years of being on the park to see the site in this state was a shock.
At least Quintain Holdings had the decency to meet the residents to tell them of their plans for the park. Their plans was for work during the closed season, when can you inform us of your intentions, your strategic plan and what the affect will be on the remaining residents on the park. What will be the timetable of the work starting and the times of the working day? As the park reopens in a matter of 8 weeks the last thing we want is to wake up to the noise of construction traffic. Will there be a reduction in the site fees for loss of the ‘’Peace and Quiet’’ you quote in your brochure, as a bonus to your future tenants
What security arrangements are to be put in place to supervise these transient visitors to our site and protect our property?
What Risk Assessment and Environmental Impact Assessments have been done to ensure the Safety of the residents on the site and the Public using the Right of Way through it?
What is the purpose of the 4 caravans that have been in left front of the club house since the beginning of October? They do not conform to the Yorkshire National Park colour code.
Will there still be Touring van’s and tents on site during this season How will you protect children with visiting families?
I also see that the park is being advertised by Hoseasons as an ‘’ALL YEAR SITE’’ which, I believe is against the local Bye Laws. The previous manager allowed large groups of people to use the rental vans; they parked 3 or 4 cars at each one and blocked access to the resident’s caravans. This should not be allowed to happen. This has always been a quiet, tranquil family site and everybody knew each other and looked after each others vans.
I believe others have had had little response to letters sent to this office. May I take this opportunity to thank you for your time and attention to this matter and look forward to your prompt reply
Yours sincerely
G R Hughes
Posted by: G R Hughes on 7:40pm Tue 19 Feb 08
http://www.hoseasons
.co.uk/UKPark.aspx?s
iteCode=HOLM
How can they advertise a site that is like a building site. Up to last week there were old caravans on the car park outside the club house. Blown down tree branches on the floor. Grass all cut up from the removal of the expelled vans.
Why not take a reporter down to have a look around, the site opens on the 1st March see for yourself.
George
http://www.hoseasons
.co.uk/UKPark.aspx?s
iteCode=HOLM
How can they advertise a site that is like a building site. Up to last week there were old caravans on the car park outside the club house. Blown down tree branches on the floor. Grass all cut up from the removal of the expelled vans.
Why not take a reporter down to have a look around, the site opens on the 1st March see for yourself.
George
Posted by: James, Sunderland on 8:06pm Wed 9 Apr 08
I have been living in chantry caravan site for 9 years now and all of our family are going to be moved away because our catavan is too old. we have one of the best locations on the park with a beautiful refreshing view of penn hill and no doubt there going to have the whole area under construction for ages. A friend of mine on the site told me that all caravans are expected to have holders on the wall for plasma televisions. This new company are taking traditional caravanning holidays and moderizing them. It's ridiculous!
I have been living in chantry caravan site for 9 years now and all of our family are going to be moved away because our catavan is too old. we have one of the best locations on the park with a beautiful refreshing view of penn hill and no doubt there going to have the whole area under construction for ages. A friend of mine on the site told me that all caravans are expected to have holders on the wall for plasma televisions. This new company are taking traditional caravanning holidays and moderizing them. It's ridiculous!
Posted by: John S on 6:10pm Thu 24 Jul 08
good to see they're going to refresh this old and tired site. Great news. hopefully all the old caravans will be moved off ASAP so that new and more high tech vans and lodges can go on. There are too many caravans that are 5+ years old. That shouldn't happen!
Well done guys!
good to see they're going to refresh this old and tired site. Great news. hopefully all the old caravans will be moved off ASAP so that new and more high tech vans and lodges can go on. There are too many caravans that are 5+ years old. That shouldn't happen!
Well done guys!
Posted by: George, Westholme on 7:39pm Mon 11 Aug 08
I have written to William Hague about the things happening in the Dales. This is his ''back garden'' big business is coming in and building expensive lodges, closing down touring, tent and static sites thereby turning the Dales into a no go area for the working people.The reply from his office was not our problem. Who will be able to afford the 100 thousand pound palaces being built in the Dales. Planning applications for caravans suddenly become lodges, twice the size of a static caravan. What will be the environmental impact with all the extra waste water, sewage etc bring to the local infrastructure. Who is going to stand up to these people. Gypsies have more rights than the owners of static caravans. It's about time the local councils stood up for the local people and not to sit down with these bullies that are going to wreck the Dales economy. Town and villages need tourists to help their economy. How many houses already stand empty locally because incomers have bought them for an investment opportunity. This then prices the youngsters out of the housing market. Stop the Dales becoming a concrete jungle, the Dales are a National Park don't let them make it a rich mans paradise.
I have written to William Hague about the things happening in the Dales. This is his ''back garden'' big business is coming in and building expensive lodges, closing down touring, tent and static sites thereby turning the Dales into a no go area for the working people.The reply from his office was not our problem. Who will be able to afford the 100 thousand pound palaces being built in the Dales. Planning applications for caravans suddenly become lodges, twice the size of a static caravan. What will be the environmental impact with all the extra waste water, sewage etc bring to the local infrastructure. Who is going to stand up to these people. Gypsies have more rights than the owners of static caravans. It's about time the local councils stood up for the local people and not to sit down with these bullies that are going to wreck the Dales economy. Town and villages need tourists to help their economy. How many houses already stand empty locally because incomers have bought them for an investment opportunity. This then prices the youngsters out of the housing market. Stop the Dales becoming a concrete jungle, the Dales are a National Park don't let them make it a rich mans paradise.
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