Latest news with #Wyldecrest

Leader Live
4 days ago
- Business
- Leader Live
Work underway to address issues at Willow Park, Mancot
Earlier this year, the Leader reported on the struggles faced by residents of Willow Park at Mancot. They had set up a petition with the aim of putting an end to 'excessive and unfair' water charges, which left residents paying significantly more than the national average. Most homes/static caravans house just one or two residents and have little to no garden space, yet residents have been charged over £68 a month for water, far exceeding the national average of £39.42. Residents were caught up in a dispute with park owner Wyldecrest, and Welsh Water, over who was responsible for massive leaks at the site. Now, Wyldecrest owner, Alfie Best - who was the subject of TV documentary Gypsy Billionaire - has agreed to fund new pipework at the site, with construction work already underway. That is news which has come as a relief to many, including residents association chairman Ken Pierce. He said: 'This has been something that has been disputed for some time but it was only when we had some water meters installed showing the real cost of use was around £15 a month that the message finally sunk in. 'That and the fact Wyldecrest have a new and approachable maintenance director Ed Gummery means we have now got to a situation of having new pipes laid which we hope will prevent further massive leakage." Meanwhile the owners of the 159 homes at Queensferry are continuing to press for water meters to be installed. TOP STORIES Llangollen's historic Hand Hotel has been sold to an international buyer Councillor Sam Swash, who represents Mancot has successfully petitioned the Senedd, the Welsh Government, who will discuss the matter in September. He said: "This isn't just a local issue. It is a systemic problem facing park home residents across Wales. Park home residents do not have a legal right to request a water meter from their supplier. "This leaves them at the mercy of site owners who can neglect their responsibilities whilst forcing residents to pick up the tab. "Water companies, as service providers, have a duty to ensure fair treatment for customers and prevent the waste of a precious resource." A spokesperson for Wyldecrest Parks said: "We are pleased to confirm that work is well underway to upgrade the pipework at Willow Park and we are committed to ensuring a long-term solution for residents. "We continue to work closely with the Residents Association and appreciate the constructive dialogue that has helped move things forward." Welsh Water previously said: "We appreciate the concerns of the residents on sites such as these but this is an issue between them and their landlords. 'The water network on sites is usually private so any leakage beyond our pipe and meter is not the responsibility of Welsh Water. 'The billing agreement between tenants and landlords is a private matter for them.'
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mobile home park dream turns to 'nightmare'
At a mobile home park owned by a reality television billionaire, residents moved in to "live the dream". Instead, some are now "living a nightmare" as they battle issues with potholes, lighting and water leaks. Willow Park, in Mancot, Flintshire, is owned by Wyldecrest Parks, the company of Alfie Best, who was the subject of TV documentary Gypsy Billionaire. However, its licence for the site was not renewed when it expired in July 2023, and a new licence was also refused on appeal last year. While Wyldecrest said it is "still committed" to carrying out work, residents in the 159 homes say no upkeep is carried out despite them paying a quarterly maintenance fee to the firm. Caravan owner 'felt trapped' by £20,000 sale loss Buyers mis-sold caravans as full-time homes Those that live there simply want someone to take responsibility. "They (the residents) are so fed up of having to fight for basic needs when all they want is a hassle-free life in their later years," said long-term resident Julie Davies. "We have been abandoned... Wyldecrest don't want to know, the council, the Senedd don't want to know. "We've been left in limbo." She said the site was "lovely" when she arrived 17 years ago to care for her elderly parents, but it had seen a "rapid decline". Ms Davies said people had moved to "live the dream," but instead, they are living "a nightmare". Licences for parks are issued by local authorities under the Mobile Homes Act (Wales) 2013. But the sites have to be kept to a certain standard in order to keep them, as well as meeting other criteria. Flintshire council said it refused a residential mobile homes licence to Wyldecrest Parks in October 2024 following complaints from residents regarding conditions on site. It was now awaiting a date for Wyldecrest's appeal of that decision. "The council continues to comply with the directions in respect of the appeal and is working with a legal team to ensure legal compliance is obtained on the site," a spokesperson said. "The council is not in a position to take further legal action until the appeal process is completed and is unable to comment further while the legal process remains ongoing." "We are in a no man's land," is how Jackie Morgan, 68, describes it. "Wyldecrest totally ignore our pleas, and Flintshire council say they won't come on site to help because there's no licence." Ms Morgan cannot take her 94-year-old father out in his wheelchair for fear it will tip over on potholes. She also points to perimeter hedges left overgrown, while empty plots were left unmaintained. The residents are also paying three times what they should for water because of leaks, according to residents' association chairman Ken Pierce, 84. He has been on the site 23 years, and said: "Each home is paying £56.14 a month for water we don't use, it is going through the site meter, but not reaching our homes. We should be paying around £16 a month." In a statement, Welsh Water said the leakage on site must be resolved. It added: "We appreciate the concerns of the residents but this is an issue between them and their landlord as the leakage is occurring on the private part of the water network which Welsh Water does not maintain. "The billing agreement between the tenants and the landlord is a private matter for them." Wyldecrest spokesman David Sunderland, who is the manager for sites including Willow Park, said the company had not been served any compliance notices by Flintshire council and he denied that they had been ignoring residents. "We communicate with all residents," he said, adding: "If anyone has a query, I'll talk to them." He said the company had already been getting quotes for a new water main to be laid and any road resurfacing would take place after that work is complete. The Welsh government said the local authority was best placed to comment on the situation. Wyldcrest's other site in Flintshire, Willow Brook Park in Sandycroft, is also currently without a licence.


BBC News
20-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Flintshire mobile home park residents in limbo with no maintenance
At a mobile home park owned by a reality television billionaire, residents moved in to "live the dream".Instead, some are now "living a nightmare" as they battle issues with potholes, lighting and water leaks. Willow Park, in Mancot, Flintshire, is owned by Wyldecrest Parks, the company of Alfie Best, who was the subject of TV documentary Gypsy its licence for the site was not renewed when it expired in July 2023, and a new licence was also refused on appeal last Wyldecrest said it is "still committed" to carrying out work, residents in the 159 homes say no upkeep is carried out despite them paying a quarterly maintenance fee to the firm. Those that live there simply want someone to take responsibility. "They (the residents) are so fed up of having to fight for basic needs when all they want is a hassle-free life in their later years," said long-term resident Julie Davies."We have been abandoned... Wyldecrest don't want to know, the council, the Senedd don't want to know. "We've been left in limbo."She said the site was "lovely" when she arrived 17 years ago to care for her elderly parents, but it had seen a "rapid decline".Ms Davies said people had moved to "live the dream," but instead, they are living "a nightmare". Licences for parks are issued by local authorities under the Mobile Homes Act (Wales) the sites have to be kept to a certain standard in order to keep them, as well as meeting other council said it refused a residential mobile homes licence to Wyldecrest Parks in October 2024 following complaints from residents regarding conditions on was now awaiting a date for Wyldecrest's appeal of that decision."The council continues to comply with the directions in respect of the appeal and is working with a legal team to ensure legal compliance is obtained on the site," a spokesperson said. "The council is not in a position to take further legal action until the appeal process is completed and is unable to comment further while the legal process remains ongoing.""We are in a no man's land," is how Jackie Morgan, 68, describes it. "Wyldecrest totally ignore our pleas, and Flintshire council say they won't come on site to help because there's no licence."Ms Morgan cannot take her 94-year-old father out in his wheelchair for fear it will tip over on potholes. She also points to perimeter hedges left overgrown, while empty plots were left unmaintained. The residents are also paying three times what they should for water because of leaks, according to residents' association chairman Ken Pierce, has been on the site 23 years, and said: "Each home is paying £56.14 a month for water we don't use, it is going through the site meter, but not reaching our homes. We should be paying around £16 a month."In a statement, Welsh Water said the leakage on site must be added: "We appreciate the concerns of the residents but this is an issue between them and their landlord as the leakage is occurring on the private part of the water network which Welsh Water does not maintain."The billing agreement between the tenants and the landlord is a private matter for them." Wyldecrest spokesman David Sunderland, who is the manager for sites including Willow Park, said the company had not been served any compliance notices by Flintshire council and he denied that they had been ignoring residents."We communicate with all residents," he said, adding: "If anyone has a query, I'll talk to them."He said the company had already been getting quotes for a new water main to be laid and any road resurfacing would take place after that work is complete. The Welsh government said the local authority was best placed to comment on the other site in Flintshire, Willow Brook Park in Sandycroft, is also currently without a licence.