DREAMS of a peaceful hideaway in the Essex countryside have quickly turned to a nightmare for those owning land at Waterside Park, in St Lawrence Bay, after a multinational leisure company took more than 60 of them to court for unpaid maintenance fees.
Students, families, retirees, and grandparents have all found themselves branded like "common criminals" after firm Park Resorts had county court judgements issued against them for thousands of pounds, leaving some unable to apply for mortgages, take out credit cards, or open bank accounts.
But those fighting the judgements at a hearing in Chelmsford County Court allege they are living in "third world" conditions and should not have to pay.
Holidaymakers at the "laid back and leisurely" Waterside Holiday Park on the Dengie Peninsula share land with a number of freeholders who have purchased small pitches to use for weekends away, or longer durations and whom are obliged to pay an annual maintenance fee to current owners Park Resorts, who own 41 parks across the UK, to maintain facilities.
Grandmother Jean Robinson, who inherited the plot from her father after his death, is one of those fighting a demand from the company for £3,000 of unpaid fees; an amount she argues simply cannot be justified by the conditions in which the freeholders live.
"There's no running water, no electricity – we're living in third world conditions down there," said the 70-year-old, who admits failing to pay the fees from 2008 to 2010.
"They want the land, that's what this is about. I believe I owe this to my father who was a Normandy veteran, he wouldn't be surprised at all that I'm fighting this – we need an Erin Brockovich character to put our case across."
Jean, who is disabled and whose husband requires nine hours of dialysis a day, claims she first learned of the court case in summer 2013 when a neighbour informed her that the summons had been stuck to the side of her caravan in a clear plastic wallet.
She also alleges that for two months the company disabled her electric key fob, which provided her unfettered access to the land, and refused to reinstate it until the amount owed was paid.
"While I was there I saw another couple hand over £6,000 to get their key as they couldn't have a county court judgement against them," she added.
She says it wasn't until a pro-bono solicitor called the firm from the Royal Courts of Justice in May warning them of an impending injunction that she was filing that they agreed to reinstate her access.
Joining her that day at the Royal Courts of Justice was fellow freeholder Simon Kadwill, who has since sold his plot at Waterside to avoid "hassle" but whom has been ordered to pay £15,000 by Park Resorts in unpaid maintenance fees.
"I went there for the peace and quiet, I wanted to be somewhere in the country by the sea where it was peaceful and quiet – a lot of people have that dream," Simon told the Chronicle.
"I have gone from feeling angry, to feeling down and just having to go along with the court process which can be ever so frustrating."
The Londoner alleges that maintenance was not carried out with large holes in the access roads, and freeholders being restricted from using the toilet and shower block facilities.
So determined were the Waterside Freeholders Association to prove that the yearly bills did not reflect the actual expense of the firm on maintenance, they even hired an independent chartered accountant for five years who they say calculated an annual cost of no more than £250 per plot, or £70,000 for the whole park – on average a quarter of what the company charges. A statement from Park Resorts said: ""The Freehold Owner pitches are camping pitches and are by definition 'un-serviced'. Mains water is available near to the pitches and we are not restricting these Freeholders from using the toilet or shower facilities. The Freehold Owners have refused to pay agreed maintenance charges and we are simply seeking the payment of outstanding invoices. We are unable to comment any further while this matter is being investigated by the Court."
