Written by Harry Turnbull
Residents drowning in sky-high water bills are celebrating a victory in North Wales.
Work is underway to replace pipes that leaked 5m litres of water a year after a residents’ campaign at the Willow Park mobile homes site in Queensferry.
The site owner Wyldecrest has finally agreed to update piping that lead to bills costing £68 a month. Locals made a breakthrough when they secretly installed water meters that showed they should be paying £16 a month and then raised a petition to have the matter considered by the Senedd.
Wyldecrest, owned by “Britain’s richest gypsy” Alfy Best, agreed to call in contractors after Welsh Water washed their hands of the matter.
But the matter won’t end there. Residents chairman Ken Pierce says there is still anger over Welsh Water’s couldn’t care less approach:
“We have had to battle to get those responsible for replacing the pipes to meet their obligations. In this case it is the site owner but the water company have demonstrated complete disregard at seeing 5m litres of water leak away a year. Even if they weren’t responsible for the piping on site it was staggering they had no interest in massive leakages impacting the environment. You won’t find any mention of that on their website.”
No, but you will find this:
We’re the only water company of its kind in the UK. We don’t have shareholders, which means we put every penny back into looking after your water and our beautiful environment – now and for years to come.
Ken said he hopes to see the Senedd look at this and take whatever action is appropriate.
The change of heart at Wyldecrest, not renowned for maintaining its parks to the satisfaction of residents, seems to have been triggered by the appointment of a new maintenance director Ed Gummery.
Mr Pierce added “Everything is going to plan and we have a good understanding with Mr Gummery up to now. Let’s hope it continues.”
Last year Flintshire Council refused a license for Willow Park because company director David Sunderland failed the fit and proper person test. He is currently appealing that decision.
About the author
Harry Turnbull is an experienced journalist based in the north who has held a variety of reporting and editing roles in the media. Harry also writes a reviews column for the UK’s biggest archive of BBC radio dramas.