Mobile homes could face tougher fire regulations from Epping Forest District Council (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Mobile homes could face tougher fire regulations from Epping Forest District Council

5:40pm Tuesday 9th February 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

MEMBERS of a mobile home park community have claimed they are being victimised by overzealous council fire rules.

Residents of Abridge Park, off London Road, Abridge, have been told they face tighter regulations which will force them to remove tall fences, and wooden sheds, and leave their cars in a central car park away from their homes.

Abridge Park has an over 55s residency policy, and many of its homeowners are concerned about how they will cope with the new rules.

Shenagh Williams, 55, said: “A lot of people are elderly on here, a lot of people are infirm and have disabilities and some are quite seriously ill. At this stage in their lives they shouldn't' be worrying about this sort of thing.

“A lot of people might not have enough money to do this. My husband and I had just about got our garden how we wanted it. We've spent a lot of money on it. I'm very annoyed.”

Graham Wise, 72, said: “I think they're over the top, and they've overrated the risk. Their whole worry is the risk of fire because we're quite close together. We know that, but because of that we need a bit of privacy- we need a fence.”

The council's potential move, which is in a preliminary stage, echoes a case highlighted by the Guardian last year when residents of maisonettes in Torrington Drive, Loughton, were told to remove all furnishings from their hallways to prevent fires.

Those measures were later pared back by the council after residents signed a petition against them, and Abridge Park's members are hoping for the same clemency.

Mrs Williams said: “We're being discriminated against and victimised really. I've walked around the council estate and they've got houses next to each other, and there's a log cabin and a wooden bungalow. It seems very, very unfair.”

A spokeswoman for the district council said: "The Council is looking to update existing site licence conditions for all park homes sites on the district to be in line with the Government's Model Standards 2008.

"Whilst there will be some changes, many of the requirements already apply in the existing site licence conditions (eg sheds and cars).

"Where there are likely to be major changes, these will be phased in over time."