Stricter laws will protect caravan site residents
Long- term residents on caravan parks will get new protection from stricter licensing laws.
West Lothian Council’s Executive has approved a tightening up of regulations to drive up standards on residential caravan sites.
Key to this is the new demand to renew the park licence every five years- a process which will involve inspections- and, where needed, consultations with residents.
The “significant changes” set out in the report will mean increased costs for the council but these can be offset by a new set of charges which would see a site of up to ten homes costing £577 to license and the largest - of 71 to 100 plus caravans £5770. Additional charges are levied for the paperwork.
The new process also covers the owners of sites, who need to pass a fit and proper person test. These new rules cover criminal convictions, previous management behaviour as well as laws governing maintenance records and landlord and tenant legislation.
The council also has a range of new powers to compel site owners to carry out improvement works. Where informal approaches are not successful, or where issues require more serious and urgent attention there are now a number of options available to officers. These include: penalty notices, revoking a licence, and emergency action on site.
In worst case scenarios the council can appoint interim management, and also report site owners to the Procurator Fiscal.
Councillor Pauline Clark sought reassurance that residents would be kept informed of any changes made on sites.
Craig McCorriston, Head of Planning, Economic Development and Regeneration, who presented the proposals to the Executive confirmed that would be part of the new process.