A holiday park firm have come under fire for the third time in just over a year for allegedly trying to force static caravanners off their seaside site in Ayrshire.
Caravan owners at Turnberry Holiday Park say Park Holidays have given them a deadline of Monday (October 31) to either provide formal documentation of pitch entitlement beyond the 2022 season, or upgrade their holiday homes with a new fixed-term license of 20 years.
Failing to do either will result in being booted off the park as their pitch license will be terminated on December 31, it's claimed.
Many caravanners say they have been left feeling confused as they say their original contracts have no end date on them, and were told by the previous general manager last year that all was well with their contracts.
Mary Miller, who had been on the park for six years but has since left, has been speaking up on behalf of owners.
She said: “It’s ridiculous. It’s all pressure techniques.
“The new GM is saying it’s because of ‘tenure’ but the contracts do not have a tenure, it was unlimited.
“According to the previous GM last year, the legal team checked it all out and said everything was fine and they were told that they were allowed to stay- so what’s changed in a year?
“The old general manager phoned them up at the time, apologised and said ‘enjoy your caravan now’- but how can they enjoy it if they have this every single year?
“It’s constantly looming over their head like a threat.
“Initially they were trying to get them off for the age of the caravan, and now they’re saying ‘that’s not an issue, we want you off because your tenure is finished’.
“It’s like they’re just making it up to suit themselves.”
One elderly owner, who’s in their eighties and asked not to be named, said they were going to meet the general manager on Saturday “to discuss options”.
“But we already know our options,” they said.
“We either leave or upgrade, which at our age we really can’t afford to do.
“We don’t even know how long we’re going to be here for- at our age we could kick the bucket tomorrow.”
Another owner, who has had their caravan for 16 years, said: “First of all they’re making it out as if it’s the caravan, then they’re saying ‘it’s not the caravan it’s the tenure’ but our pitch license covered us for as long as, providing we had gas etc certificates and stuck to the rules.
“We do everything by the book - same as everybody.
“The manager last year told me in writing that there was no age limit, after a discussion with the legal team.
“It just isn’t right.”
Another owner, also in their eighties, added: “This used to be one of the happiest places.
“I’ve been here 22 years this year and have had all this carry on in the last three or four years.
“One of the oldest women has just given up, she can’t handle it anymore.”
Park Holidays, who have been contacted for comment, were first accused of using ‘bully boy’ tactics last September when they allegedly asked caravan owners to upgrade or get off the site.
They then came under fire again in April this year as static caravanners claimed the firm hadn’t upheld their commitment to honour any Bridge Leisure contracts currently in place.
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