Strict Conditions Imposed At Controversial North Wales Park Homes Site
Image by Matt Harrop / Flintshire Council Buildings near Mold, shared under cc2.0
Written by Harry Turnbull
Residents at Willow Park mobile home park in Mancot have secured another significant victory against their landlords.
Flintshire Council have granted the company a new licence to operate the site, but only for three years instead of the standard five and with a series of conditions attached.
The site has been without a licence for two years after being beset with various problems including huge water bills due to pipe leaks. A year ago it decided the named site manager David Sunderland was not a fit and proper person.
Local councillor Sam Swash told the licensing committee: “The site has been plagued with years of neglect and broken promises. Mr Sunderland has been found to be not fit and proper previously and nothing has changed to alter residents’ views on that.”
Led by former union boss Ken Pierce, residents turned out to ensure the committee would support their views. The site is managed by a business owned by Britain’s richest gypsy Alfie Best (Best Holdings) and is part of the wider Wyldecrest group.
Since the licence withdrawal Wyldcrest appointed a new maintenance director Ed Gummery who has set about fixing leaky pipes and other problems on site with roads and electrics. But they also named Mr Sunderland on the new licence application.
“Our choice is an easy one and that is Mr Gummery,” said Mr Pierce. “And if he goes we do not want the licence to revert to Sunderland.”
Mr Gummery told the committee he had ended the ‘them and us’ situation and was keen to continue working towards solutions to benefit residents and the company.
The council agreed, naming Mr Gummery as sole site manager for the three-year license period with conditions attached such as regular fire safety checks and ensuring roads are kept in a state of good repair. There must also be an appropriate number of parking spaces a lighting plan and regular fire assessments.
Meanwhile Cllr Swash is awaiting an appeal to the Senedd to consider allowing householders to have water meters installed to prevent massive bills occurring in the future.
