A new rule at a Welsh holiday site has "shocked" a caravan owner who fears he was been "forced off". He said that new rules at Kingsley Holiday Park in Abergele, which is owned by Lyons Holiday Parks, mean caravans on the site must be a year 2000 model or newer.
The age limit was introduced on March 1 and means that holidaymakers with vehicles over the age limit risk being forced out of caravan parks because they no longer meet safety requirements, a rule which Lyons Holiday Parks said was common across the industry.
The man, who did not wish to be named, claimed he had no option but to leave the Abergele site next month, despite "pleading" with the owners to let him stay.
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He told NorthWalesLive that despite being a loyal customer of the site for seven years, he had been left with no realistic option but to leave the site because he cannot afford to upgrade during the cost of living crisis. He told North Wales Live: "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 claims he signed an agreement with former owners Abbeyfields which stated his caravan could stay on the site, as long as it was well-maintained. However, he has since been informed that when the site was bought by Lyons in 2019, this agreement became invalid.
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."
The devastated owner said he is not the only one impacted by the rule change which has seen others forced to sell-up because the cost of living crisis has made it "impossible" to afford an upgrade. He added: "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 said the company has a duty to continually improve its parks which are located in "some of the most tourist-dense regions in the UK." 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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