'DISMANTLE YOUR HOMES!' Caravan owners' fury at park council order.

Byline: Steve Edwards 

RESIDENTS living in a caravan park have been left shell-shocked by the news they will have to dismantle their homes to conform to fire regulations.

There are 145 mobile homes at the Cambrian Residential Caravan Park near Culverhouse Cross.

Most have expensive extensions added to them but these are going to be removed in line with a new licence agreement.

Chairman of the Cambrian Residential Park residents' association Malcolm Andrews says all the home owners have been told to remove their extensions because they represent a fire hazard.

'This caravan park has been in existence for 40 years. During that time around 80 per cent of caravans have had extensions or porches added.

'Now we've been told we've got to take them down. People can't live without their extensions and if they take them down they will lose their homes.'

However, the owner of the caravan park David Lubin says he was forced to agree to the new licence conditions.

'Basically it's the Vale of Glamorgan imposing these measures on us. I don't want to have to make anyone do anything up there.

'The Vale say they are mobile homes but in effect they are not and if you move them they will fall to pieces.

'I think it's ludicrous - the safety record at the caravan park is exemplary and I don't think there is a fire risk.'

Vale of Glamorgan Council spokeswoman Anna Humphries said: 'The council's environmental health department agreed a new licensing agreement with the site owner in August 2002 after extensive consultation.

'In order to comply with caravan site regulations there was a requirement in the licence for some extensions to mobile homes to be removed to prevent the spread of fire.

'However, these improvements have to be made over a seven-year time scale.'