Merseyside Police are investigating an allegation of fraud at a popular Merseyside holiday park.
The force are looking into allegations that a fraud has taken place at the Park Lane Holiday Homes static caravan site in Meols in Wirral. The ECHO has also spoken to a number of tenants at the site, with some claiming that following the discovery of the alleged fraud they have been asked to pay ground rent they have already paid and say they have been threatened with eviction when they have refused.
Merseyside Police said it is in the early stages of its fraud investigation while the owners of the holiday park, Britaniacrest Limited, confirmed that the alleged fraud was discovered by them and relates to the alleged actions of an independent contractor. The company has not commented on these claims.
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One tenant who has a static caravan at the Wirral site said: “I was asked to repay money I had already paid and I refused. As far as I was concerned I had already paid that money.”
“There is another lady who says she has been told she could be evicted if she doesn’t pay up. People are scared to say anything. Everyone is worried.”
The tenant added: “I have sunk all my money into this (caravan), it is a valuable asset.”
A relative of another tenant at Park Lane told the ECHO: “People who have already paid their ground rents are being told they need to pay them again because of what has happened. People have been threatened with eviction.
“There are people who live permanently on that site and would not have anywhere to go if they are evicted. They could potentially find themselves homeless.”
The Park Lane site is owned by Hill Brothers Residential and Leisure Parks, which is owned by a parent company called Britaniacrest Ltd.
The company did not respond to the specific claims of the tenants, put to them by the ECHO, about the threats of potential evictions from the site.
In a statement, released via their lawyers, Britaniacrest Limited said: “Your newspaper will appreciate that this is an ongoing police investigation and therefore it would be inappropriate to comment at this time for fear of prejudicing that investigation. The company can only confirm that the alleged fraud was discovered by the site owners, and they have notified Merseyside Police.
“The company would add that the alleged fraud relates to actions taken by an independent contractor, and not a member of staff, and urges anyone with information to contact Merseyside Police.”
A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: “We can confirm we have received an allegation of fraud relating to a holiday park business based in Wirral. The investigation is in the very early stages and we are carrying out a number of lines of enquiry and speaking to potential witnesses.”
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Robert Johnson is a UK-based business writer specializing in finance and entrepreneurship. With an eye for market trends and a keen interest in the corporate world, he offers readers valuable insights into business developments.
