“Each time there are heavy rains, our pitch floods, which is usually, because of the British climate.”
A livid couple have slammed a vacation park agency after claiming that they are “caught dwelling in a pitch that continues to flood” after buying a caravan for £36,600.
Alicia Mearns, 41, and companion John Hayden, 48, say they’ve been advised their caravan at Park Lane Vacation Houses in Meols, Wirral is “mainly not value something” as a result of a kitchen John put in, and they’re now unable to promote it, stories the ECHO.
However the agency hit again, insisting they “refute” the couple’s claims and say they’ve had no communication about promoting up.
A spokesperson stated: “The couple haven’t engaged in any communications with the corporate concerning promoting the caravan.”
Alicia and John have been hoping to purchase a property in Spain, however as a substitute opted for a base near their locations of labor. Alicia, who owns Attract magnificence salon in Birkenhead and John, who runs constructing enterprise J&J Joinery, determined vacation parks gave the impression to be the most suitable choice for a second residence.
In early 2023, the pair met a salesman concerning a web site at on the park, that they had a funds of £25,000. Nonetheless, they declare they have been advised there was just one caravan out there close to their value vary at £36,600.
The pair declare they felt pressured as they have been advised another person was fascinated by shopping for it, and would wish to commit instantly with a £500 deposit.
Alicia stated: “We felt rushed. However the caravan gave the impression to be what we needed, so we took the plunge.”
John added: “The remainder of the cash we needed to pull collectively from financial institution loans and part-exchanging our 2013 touring caravan, pending the sale of our former property.”
Alicia stated: “We weren’t given a contract. Not then and never later. All we ever obtained was a bit of paper within the workplace to substantiate the sale.”
The pair paid £4,600 in web site feed upront. In addition they stated an additional £300 was charged a couple of weeks later. Alicia stated they spend many of the 12 months on the location, however revealed issues arose on October 20, 2023, when floods occurred.
She stated: “Each time there are heavy rains, our pitch floods, which is usually, because of the British climate.
“The water depth might be such that we discover it extraordinarily troublesome to get out and in of the caravan. I’m a mum with two youngsters and the youngest is seven.”
John added: “They advised us a brand new water pump was put in to maintain water ranges down in future. However the flooding is definitely worse now. It has flooded badly – a complete of seven occasions since we moved in.”
The couple say they requested to maneuver their caravan to a better pitch however have been advised it will value £1,400. They stated they organized for it to be performed whereas they have been in Spain attempting to facilitate a transfer overseas.
Alicia stated: “(The proprietor) advised us outright that they might not be shifting our caravan. He advised us that the one approach to transfer to a extra flood-proof location was to improve to 1 in a extra preferable location.”
They have been dealt one other blow once they say a supervisor advised them the van was now “mainly nugatory” because of the £10,000 kitchen John had put in.
Alicia stated: “Apparently this had devalued the caravan” and “plus the actual fact it was 20 years outdated (we had no concept about its age till this level) rendered it nugatory.”
She continued: “We’re in all probability biased, however we really feel that the caravan seems to be objectively higher after John’s lovingly put in kitchen substitute.”
John added that they have been advised the most cost effective improve could be round £75,000 – which is greater than they have been prepared to pay. The pair then stated they tried to promote the caravan privately.
Nonetheless, a spokesperson from Park Lane Vacation Houses stated: “The couple haven’t engaged in any communications with the corporate concerning promoting the caravan and subsequently their feedback are wholly refuted.”
In response, Alicia claims she spoke to a supervisor about desirous to promote the caravan. She stated: “Two mates expressed an curiosity in shopping for our caravan. He (the salesperson) advised us that ‘due to the caravan’s age’, the park must put the bottom lease up from £4,600 to £10,500 for the brand new homeowners. Understandably our mates didn’t wish to undergo with the acquisition after studying this.”
The couple declare they checked out the potential for shifting the caravan to a distinct web site, however stated that due to its age no different web site would permit this.
Alicia stated: “This info is one thing they completely ought to have disclosed to us earlier than we paid out £36,600. We by no means would have paid a lot cash for a caravan if we had identified the constraints brought on by its age. Not telling us this was a severe failure on their half in our opinion.
“We are actually caught dwelling on a pitch that continues to flood, leading to our electrical energy tripping out as our washer and dryer are positioned outdoors. The tumble dryer is now ruined as a result of water harm.
“Presently we’re in limbo. The park retains sending us a brand new lease to signal, and we daren’t signal it as a result of it states a caravan age restrict of ten years.
“Now we have paid two years’ web site charges for a pitch that’s unliveable, not match for objective and a hazard.”
A spokesperson for Park Lane Vacation Houses stated: “We are able to affirm that over the previous two years the park has, from time to time, skilled flash floods.
“Nonetheless, we want to emphasise that such occasions aren’t distinctive to the park itself. They’re in step with climate patterns affecting the broader native space of the Wirral and are reflective of the environmental situations skilled throughout the area, the place flooding generally happens.
“We want to reassure all visitors that we stay totally dedicated to making sure that the vacation park continues to be managed safely and responsibly. All essential measures have been taken to guard guests and keep the excessive requirements our visitors anticipate.
“In respect of the allegations made by the couple concerning their caravan, we should spotlight that firstly it is a vacation web site, and never a residential web site. Additional the couple haven’t engaged in any communications with the corporate concerning promoting the caravan and subsequently their feedback are wholly refuted.
“The 19-page licence settlement in place with the couple (signed on every web page) is for one 12 months, and they’re at liberty to maneuver to a different vacation web site in the event that they so want.”
