SCOPHRA recently lobbied all the Scottish MSPs including the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and the Party Leaders,  to inform them of the role of SCOPHRA and seek their suport in park home matters

The text of the letter is below and we are delighted to have received a positive response from several MSPs,  the Cabinet Secretary and indeed Mr Douglas Ross, leader of the Conservative Party in the Scottish Parliament.

 

LETTER TO MSPS SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT

15 July 2021

From the Chair. The Scottish Confederation of Park Home Residents Associations

Dear MSP,

First, congratulations on your election to the Scottish Parliament, your presence there is of the utmost importance to the people of Scotland.

Nearly every MSP has a residential park home site in their constituency, but like most people you may not have a particular awareness of this minority group. Most folk are more aware of holiday caravan sites which of course, are of great importance to the Sottish economy, particularly at this time of staycations.

May we take this opportunity to introduce our group and the concept of park home living and enlist your interest and help for this group?

SCOPHRA is the umbrella group for park home residents’ associations in Scotland and we regularly interact with local MSPs and Scottish Government officials in the matters below. Please see the introductory leaflet enclosed which expands on our role. Our website is at: www.scophra.scot

Park homes are modern factory-built bungalows, selling sometimes up to £200,000, but as such they are classed as mobile homes (or caravans) and are to be found on local authority licensed sites. Park homes are usually occupied by older people who have downsized from traditional homes and seek the community spirit found in park home communities. In many cases this is a pleasant lifestyle in later years but unfortunately some sites are run by less than scrupulous owners who make their residents ’ lives a misery. A growing menace is the illegal use of holiday parks for permanent residence by site owners misrepresenting the law in these matters and thus depriving residents of legal security of tenure and councils of council tax.

The Scottish Government, in concert with our and other park home organisations, has been excellent since 2013, in introducing legislation covering the rights of residents and the licensing of such sites. This was a major step forward but the application of the law by local

authorities leaves much to be desired. In this regard we understand that the Communities and Local Government Committee will examine these issues later in the parliament.

There are just under 100 residential park home sites in Scotland housing about 7000 permanent residents. SCOPHRA’s research suggests an average age of over 70 with many of these people vulnerable by age or health. If (illegal) ‘Permanent’ residents on holiday parks are included, this figure is thought to be around 10,000.

Please see the list enclosed, which lists the parks by local authority, to establish the park of particular interest to you.

May we ask you, among your many other responsibilities and commitments, to consider this group of constituents and perhaps familiarise yourself with them and their issues. You will be welcome to visit your local parks, and we are encouraging our members to invite their MSPs to do so.

SCOPHRA has been fortunate to have had the support of some of your colleagues over the years. Angel Constance MSP has been  great supporter as has Alex Burnett MSP and Colin Beattie MSP.  Graeme Dey MSP has been particularly active with our members in Angus.  I am sure any of these will be happy to give you more insight into park homes and the people living there.

In a past parliament there was a cross-party group on park homes, and we wonder if you would support the formation of such a group in this new parliament?

May I thank you for your interest and should you wish any further insight please do not hesitate to contact me direct by telephone on 01501 762190 or by email at: jim.haluch@btinternet.com.

I hope you find the enclosed information to be of interest.

With kind regards

Yours faithfully

Jim Haluch

Chair SCOPHRA