Welsh Park Home Legislation Lags behind England

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 22nd Apr 2008

Kirsty Williams AM today challenged the First Minister on Welsh Park Home Legislation falling behind its English equivalent. On 4th April the Westminster Government published its New Model Standards document for Park Homes in England, this will improve dispute resolution for park home residents; Wales has not seen such enhancements

Kirsty Williams, Welsh Liberal Democrat AM for Brecon & Radnorshire said:

"It took 12 months for the Welsh Assembly Government to implement legislation which was already giving greater rights to English residents. Yet again we are seeing England bringing in guidance long before the Welsh Government has even considered it.

"The English Model Standard will make disputes between park home owners and site owners much easier to resolve while in Wales they will continue to remain costly and lengthy.

"Residents in Wales deserve to have the same access as their English counterparts to cheaper and simpler dispute resolution standards and I have called upon the First Minister to follow in England's footsteps and make dispute resolution fairer and easier. I will be lobbying the Assembly Government to ensure that we are not forced to wait around another 12 months for this to happen."

Notes:

Model Standards 2008 for Caravan Sites in England: Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 - Section 5: http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/modelstandardsparkhomes