I pay tribute to the two brave Wyre Country Park residents who spoke out, but it did not come consequence-free
“Unfortunately, the rogue operators are now giving the entire industry a bad name”
Wyre MP Cat Smith has raised fresh concerns about conditions on local park home sites.
In a Parliamentary debate on park home site, she recalled how two residents who appeared in a BBC Panorama investigation later saw their homes destroyed by fire.
She said the incidents, which happened 90 minutes apart in August 2025, had never been explained and had left residents “deeply shaken”. No one has been charged with an offence.
Ms Smith was speaking during a Westminster Hall debate in which MPs described widespread intimidation, mis‑selling and financial pressure faced by mobile park home residents across the country.
She told MPs that the two residents had bravely spoken out on TV’s Panorama programme about conditions at Wyre Country Park.
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“Colleagues may have seen my constituency in the Panorama documentary on park homes in 2024, in which Wyre country park featured,” she said.
“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.
“There are a great many park home sites that are well run, and probably a lot of park home owners are listening to this and thinking, ‘actually, I live somewhere that is pretty good.’
“But unfortunately, the rogue operators are now giving the entire industry a bad name, which is why we need to take action.”
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She highlighted Havenlyn Residential Park, where dozens of homeowners have contacted her about rule changes imposed without consultation — including a new restriction preventing anyone from selling their home to a buyer younger than themselves.
Ms Smith warned that such rules trap older residents and grieving families.
Her intervention was part of a discussion about policing the residential park homes industry - not holiday homes - and in particular whether the 10 per cent tax on selling properties, which goes to the site owner, should be amended or abolished.
James Naish (Rushcliffe MP), who secured the debate, said residents face “mis‑selling, poor maintenance, weak enforcement, opaque charges, disputes over pitch fees and the notorious 10 per cent commission” levied every time a home is sold.
The legislation governing the sector, he noted, is nearly half a century old.
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Leigh Ingham (Stafford) called the 10 per cenr commission “deeply unfair”, pointing out that it has not changed in 45 years and falls hardest on older residents.
Rachel Hopkins (Luton South) said one constituent selling a £280,000 home would hand over £28,000 to a site owner “for doing nothing”.
The Communities minister, Matthew Pennycook, acknowledged the “deeply troubling” cases and promised to look again at enforcement and outdated legislation.
“Despite the legislation that has been introduced over the decades, which was designed to address widespread malpractice and poor standards in the industry, we know that problems remain,” said Mr Pennycook.