A caravan owner has said he is living in fear of being "forced off" a holiday park due to the introduction of a new rule.
He added that he was "shocked" by the treatment he was receiving at Kingsley Holiday Park in Abergele, North Wales, which is owned by Lyons Holiday Park. A new rule was recently introduced which dictates that any caravan on site must be a year 2000 model or newer.
The age limit will be enforced starting March 1 and means any holidaymakers with a caravan under the age limit will run the risk of no longer meeting safety requirements. The man, who wanted to remain anonymous, said he has no option but to leave the park site next month after "pleading" with the owners to let him stay.
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Speaking to North Wales Live, the man said: "The only option Lyons have offered me is to upgrade to one of their caravans costing £41,000 which I can't afford."
The owner said he signed an agreement with former owners Abbeyfield which declared that his caravan could stay on the site - under the condition that it was well-maintained. But, he was later informed that the former agreement was invalid after Lyons bought the site in 2019.
He continued: "I've tried everything, I've emailed them, I've pleaded, I've practically got on my hands and knees but they're just not interested. I want to make people aware of the treatment people are facing with owning a caravan on Lyons parks because I'm now having to give up my much-loved caravan where I've had so many happy memories.
"I suffer from depression and anxiety and I'm registered blind and this is my haven that I come to, to relax. I just can't believe there's no other option and that I will be forced off the site and will no longer have somewhere to escape to with my health conditions."
He added that he is not the only caravan owner affected by the rule change, with others being forced to sell because the cost of living crisis has made it "impossible" to afford an upgrade. "Some people are having to hand their keys over because they've got no choice, even people with finance payments are struggling."
A spokesperson for the site said: “Lyons Holiday Parks incorporated Kingsley Holiday Park in Abergele into the group in 2019, meaning the park in question is now subject to the same rules and regulations as all of our 13 holiday parks in North Wales and Cumbria.
“The 20 year ‘age limit’ is a widely acknowledged condition of many, many holiday parks not just in the region but nationwide. Its purpose is to protect the wellbeing of our team, guests, and holiday homeowners by ensuring all infrastructures on-site are up to standard and are subject to essential modernisations and health and safety adaptations.
“This clause has been present in the agreements between millions of holiday home owners and their parks for decades, and is common practice in the industry. Additionally, we take great pride in the aesthetic elements of our parks which are in-keeping with our fantastic locations, as well as the holiday homes that occupy them."
The spokesperson continued: "We pride ourselves on offering affordable family holidays, therefore we’re saddened to hear about the impact this is having on the owner in question.
"However, we offer plenty of finance packages and a wide range of both brand new and used holiday homes with more affordable prices, therefore we welcome the individual in question to pop in to our receptions in Towyn and chat to a friendly member of our team.”
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