Press release —
MP cites important ECC client case during parliamentary debate on Park Home malpractice
ECC Wyre Park clients featured on Panorama brought up by MP as reference case in crucial, cross-party parliamentary park home debate
Mobile home site concern
A public, UK parliamentary debate on providing Government support for park home owners took place in Westminster Hall on 28 April 2026, led by James Naish (Labour MP for Rushcliffe) and chaired by Sir Alec Shelbrooke (Conservative MP for Wetherby and Easingwold).
This debate was specifically about permanent residency mobile homes, rather than holiday parks but many concerns cross over and are applicable to both sectors.
In fact, there is regular confusion as to which sites are licensed for holiday stays only vs those which can be lived in permanently, as Alison Hume (Labour MP for Scarborough and Whitby) pointed out: "Sites often have a mixed licence that permits them to sell both residential and holiday homes, and they are sometimes deliberately unclear about which type they are selling."
Problems discussed
The dominant issue for participating MPs was the 10% commission many parks charge when a park member sells their lodge or caravan. Every one of the 18 MPs who spoke in the debate referred to this charge.
*Ed note: - The MPs mentioned a charge of 10%. Many ECC clients state that their park charges up to 15% commission.*
The consensus was that the charge was outdated, unfair, illogical, and especially harsh on older residents.
One notable exception was Sir Roger Gale (former Conservative MP for Thanet) who opined: "If we are to address the 10% commission issue, and we must, we have to understand that it is part of the business model. Park home owners have the opportunity to read the lease they take out; they know what they are buying and what they are signing, and the commission is a significant part of the model."
Sir Roger notwithstanding, there was broad support for the Government’s recently announced review of the commission system, although MPs pushed for actual reform rather than another lengthy consultation.
Other issues MPs discussed were: intimidation,poor site maintenance,opaque utility charges,blocking or delaying home sales,weak enforcement by councils and residents feeling unable to challenge operators. Some MPs said that park residents in their constituencies had effectively become dependent on a single private operator for:utilities,maintenance,and even their ability to sell and move out.
European Consumer Claims case referred to
Cat Smith (Labour MP for Lancaster and Wyre) brought up a particularly concerning case, which ECC is currently dealing with.
Cat Smith told the debate: "Colleagues may have seen my constituency in the “Panorama” documentary on park homes in 2024, in which Wyre Country Park featured. I pay tribute to the two brave park residents who spoke out and were interviewed, but that did not come consequence-free.
"We have talked a lot about bullying and intimidation, and sadly, in August 2025, both their park homes burned down on the same day, in broad daylight, 90 minutes apart from each other. The cause was never found—I will leave that hanging, and I pay tribute to them."
The media has reported widely on the two victims' shocking story. One of the fomer lodge owners, Mike Chesworth, was already in touch with ECC before appearing on the Panorama program. ECC circulated his original story widely in the media in order to highlight Mike's existing dfficulties with Wyre Country Park.
Panorama picked up on the case and the show aired in March 2024. Many Wyre Country Park residents spoke anonymously to camera. But Mike, and fellow lodge owner Alison Porter-Garroch were brave enough to show their faces and identities.
Just over a year later, two 'mysterious' fires burnt down their two lodges. They were the only two lodges to burn down. They are not near each other. They caught fire on the same day.
ECC to the rescue
As soon as European Consumer Claims heard what had happened to Mike and Alison's lodges they stepped in to help via their holiday park division Holiday Park Advice Centre. MIke and Alison were contacted offered assistance in claiming against Wyre Country Park.
The assistance was accepted, and ECC are claiming compensation from Wyre Country Park. Not for the fires, which Lancashire Police say have been investigated as potential arson, but no definite cause identified. Instead money is being claimed for the alleged consumer offences Mike and Alison were discussing with Panorama in the first place.
According to Mike and Alison the issues mainly centred around being sold their lodges as affordable, permanent living solutions, when in fact they were only licensed as holiday properties.
Both Mike and Alison were living in fear of being evicted for this reason. Until the lodges both mysteriously caught fire.
Expert comment
"It is so important that MPs and other people with an establishment platform speak out on behalf of people like Mike and Alison," says Greg Wilson, consumer expert and CEO of European Consumer Claims. "The fact that Cat Smith is prepared to use her voice on behalf of park home victims is admirable and a welcome boost to the work we are doing here at ECC.
"The whole debate covered important aspects of park home abuse, and we wait with interest to see if the government will follow through by introducing legislation to protect lodge and static home owners.
"We feel that such legislation is long overdue."
If you feel like you have been treated unfairly by a holiday park and have lost money because of it, contact our team for free, confidential advice.
Related links
- Park Home Owners Debate
- European Consumer Claims
- ECC contact page
- Holiday Park Advice Centre
- Homes of Wyre Country Park residents caught in dispute catch fire on same day
- Greg Wilson: Holiday park expert
- Panorama: The Mobile Home Swindle
- James Naish MP
- Sir Alec Shelbrooke MP
- Alison Hume MP
- Sir Roger Gale MP
- Cat Smith MP
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Relevant websites for this article
www.holidayparkadvicecentre.co.uk
www.americanconsumerclaims.com
www.timeshareadvicecentre.co.uk
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