Scores of angry people gathered at the local town hall last Thursday to discuss the goings-on at Lossiemouth’s Silver Sands caravan park - a popular resort on the Moray Firth. It appears that many of the caravans have been sold “several times over” leaving those involved with losses of up to £10,000 and tense confrontations as people try to gain access to units they genuinely believe are theirs.
Having already been dubbed Silvergate - after the famous 1970’s US political scandal, Watergate, in which Nixon was forced to resign - it would appear that we’re far from reaching an amicable conclusion in this ongoing caravan park saga.
Tony Barney and lawyer Deepak Johar have hit out after being “named and shamed” as the parks owners by local ex-minister John Gummer, who also warned people not to do business with either of them. The pair are directors of Green Parcs, which owns the caravan site. Mr Johar claimed Gummers words were “unjustified” and that he was nothing more than company Secretary for Green Parcs.
Moray MP Angus Robertson had this to say on the matter:
“There are people who may have lost their life-savings or who have sold their home to make what they believed was a sound investment. It is clear now that this is simply not the case.”
Grampain Police have confirmed that they’ve initiated a fraud investigation to look into the business dealings after receiving numerous complaints from residents at the park.
My parents had booked a holiday at Silversands-1st-15th August but, due to a tragic accident my father died on the 25th April.(We have been holidaying at the caravan park for about 40 yrs)I informed Silver sands that due to the death of my Dad we would have to cancel the holiday and asked for a refund at first we were told no,that we would not get a refund and given a credit note instead,my Mum did not want this so I returned the credit note after a lot of ‘phone calls and letters from our solicitor we were then told that yes, we could have a refund.The director Mr Johar has now said NO we would not have a refund.What are they playing at?
Christine McClafferty
Hi all, Green Parcs bought Silver Sands over two years ago. Straight away the raised the site fees by 73%.
They left the N.C.C. etc.
The place is now resembles a shanty town.Over 80 vans left that year.We had more than 51% of owners opposing the fees.They ignore most letters that are sent.
Families that were here for 30 years were emptying their vans, crying.
Green Parcs have done the same all over the country.
Just search for the directors names on-line.
http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1354787?UserKey=
Antony Barney is another.
Please be careful.THE LAW NEEDS CHANGED.
Thanks for the comments Christine and Liz.
@Christine Would you care to share the letter you received from Mr Johar? I would be happy to write a followup post about your specific situation and/or post his letter in full.
hi all i would have to say how sorry i am for those people who have been conned by this mob of con men or women i hope they are brought to account and hamered by the law.me and my partner intend to buy a static caravan in a few month wee have saved for a long time and are now afriad this might happen to us can any one tell us the safest way to buy so we dont get conned like thoes poor people should we go to alawyer before we close a deal. any help would be great.thanks. gary
Hi Folks!
I am also tied up in this mess and it turns out my caravan has a couple owners that we know of there could be more. I am posting this because I wanted Christine to know I was in the office once when you phoned and I heard the whole conversation! I have to say I though it was totally awfull the way you were dealt with and what made me more sick was the fact he was mocking you after the call. So much for being professional eh? DISGUSTING behaviour if you ask me!
@Miss K: your comment is probably the most damaging of them all. I hope someone from Green Parcs picks up this article and investigates these claims sufficiently. I would also welcome an official comment.
I understand that Mr Barney and Mr Johar have set up a new company ‘Lifestyle’. I also understand that they have bought (or are in the process of buying) the Yorkshire Dales Caravan Park at Harmby, Leyburn. I am on the site at Leyburn and I am very concerned. I would appreciate any information anyone can give.
The man in the humvee! publicity is what is needed! send to the one show
And now he’s trying to buy Notts County, there’ll be caravans on the pitch!
Click on the link:
http://www.silver-sands.co.uk/page/manager_s_updates.html
Scroll down to the new managers comments.
” it`s all a myth”
the other sites quoted have good facilities.
11 months licence!!!
when a lot of the pipes freeze.
here`s another gem:
http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1553726?UserKey=
Keep fighting!
here`s their “site”
http://www.lifestylelivinguk.com/park-locations
The scottish parks have been removed.There`s now eight english parks.
re: silver sands, seems it was all “a Myth”
scroll down this page to the new managers comments.
http://www.silver-sands.co.uk/page/manager_s_updates.html
The other parks quoted have good facilities.
How do you stay 11 months when most of the pipes freeze. look at this link:
http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1553726?UserKey=
Everyone needs protection by law.
as it stands there are only voluntary organisations.
Keep Fighting.don`t let them fleece us.
If they are evicting people from there site in silversands,can the scottish goverment not evict them from scotland and tell them they cant set foot in here again, like they told the peole in silversands
0 AND IF THEY IMPLOYED THE MAN WHO IS GETTING CHARGED ARE THEY NOT RESPONIBLE FOR HIS ACTION WHICH MAKES THEM LIABLE
Hi there just a quick note to let you know about a networking group for all the people who have had no joy with Green Parcs and Silversands.
Anyone interested in joining the group please email me at ssownersgroup@hotmail.co.uk
A lot of people feel alone in their situation I can assure you that this is not the case, slowly but surely more people are looking to each other for support…