Parc Y Wern

"The marketing of Welsh services can be hampered by names that are difficult for visitors to pronounce. Those who know about marketing realise how important it is that customers are not uncomfortable when talking about places.

Some personal recommendations undoubtedly lost just because of this. This park, however, has no such problem - which is a good thing, for I am sure that there will be many tributes paid to it by those of no command of the Welsh language.

Les and Glenys Moseley owned two parks on the island some years ago. A while later they bought the only park on Anglesey with a residential (park home) licence - The Pines, right on the shore of the Menai strait. What a lovely park it is.
Those interested in such things may recall that, when indifferent ownership, this was a test-case park where Terrapin first supplied the homes in two halves plus a roof, making three pieces. If a home exceeds two parts it is not within the legal definition of a park (or mobile) home, so Terrapin amended their models for delivery in two pieces only.

Experience in running a residential home park is evident in the Moseley's approach to their new holiday home park. It shows from the moment a potential customer makes an enquiry. The customer is told immediately that although the park has an 11-month licence, it is very strictly for holiday use only, and if the customer is seeking somewhere to live then he or she has come to the wrong place. Of course, in the rare event of a vacancy at The Pines, there would be some redirection.
Having seen and read the licence agreement for a pitch on this park, I can confirm that the situation is very clearly laid out - not in small print, but large letters. I met Les and Glenys at The Pines and followed Les to Parc Y Wern where, as I drove through the stunning entrance, I knew they were never going to have problem filling the 29 twin lodges planned for siting.

The saying goes that, as far as property is concerned (and this includes caravan parks), only three things matter: location, location, and location. Parc-Y-Wern has it three times over. If you want to be near the sea, it is only a very short drive; if you want to be near a very charming town, then Beaumaris is only a couple of miles away; if you want a city close by, then Bangor is all of 15 minutes in the car - and if you want a stunningly beautiful, quiet country park with mountain backdrop, you just found it. The village pub and shop are within walking distance.

Starting with a green field means the owners have been able to put in all the services for all of the pitches before a single home was sited. Electricity in plentiful supply for dishwashers and all of the modern equipment; gas piped from bulk tanks so no one has to go out at night to change valves or cylinders; telephone lines to every pitch.

Delightfully landscaped, the park has plants, decorative urns, floral banking and standing stones, all set in a grassy environment enhanced by the use of slate and gravel driveways, paths and ornamental areas. Here, too they are trying to achieve something of a Mediterranean feel by planting Anglesey palms (I am no gardener, but I think they are some kind of Yucca.) These palms are not so far-fetched bearing in mind the mild climate provided by the Gulf Stream warming the local seas.

Every holiday home will have a stippled finish, which is not only easier to keep bright, but also helps to add to the southern sun atmosphere. Every home will have a balcony as standard, while to make the holiday homes feel more private, all the doors are on the same side. The last special item is that the homes will be provided with timber sheds, each of which, having gone through a new process, will have a fire certificate.

We met Kevin and Sheila Tizzard, who have bought the second holiday home to be sited here - and it was difficult to stop them singing the praises of the place long enough to take their photograph. The Tizzards, from Merseyside, were visiting the park with their foster children. The first holiday home to be sited is owned by a lady who lives in Deganwy, all of half an hour's drive away and a very pleasant and sought after place to live. She, however, spends most of her weekends at Parc Y Wern.

The park owners, Les and Glenys, are a lovely English husband and Welsh wife team. They have taken the decision to support local industry and sell only three makes of holiday homes: two by companies in Wales, Heritage and Cambrian, and Tingdene from England.

The Moseleys' experience with a residential park has directed the way in which they set up pitch licence agreements for their customers. It was their expressed desire to follow as closely as possible the policies of the Mobile Homes Act 1983 for the benefit of customers on this park. Since Parc Y Wern is a holiday park, they cannot use the provisions of the Act as such, but they mirror its intent where they can. Each agreement is drawn 'in perpetuity'; actually I think within current law this means 80 years but it is near enough to perpetuity in holiday park terms.

Ground rent is currently at £1000 per annum and will rise to £1500 in the next couple of years, as the park fills up. When the rent reaches the latter figure, the agreement states that it will be reviewed annually in line with the official Retail Prices Index. These rents are exclusive of council tax, which is being determined by local authority, and services.

Rules on sales by holiday home owners and assignment of pitches reflect those of the Mobile Homes Act almost precisely, and commission levels are set along those lines, too. At 10%. Gifting the home and assigning the pitch to a family member is straightforward, subject only to the park owners' approval of the transaction, approval of which will not be withheld unreasonably.

So how much does a twin unit on Parc Y Wern cost? Well, you could buy for around £70,000 but it all depends on what you want tp specify for your holiday home. On the day I spoke to Les, a home had just been sold for £100,000. Whatever the price, it will be exactly what the manufacturer suggests as the proper retail price for that unit plus the cost of transport from the factory (this can be £2000 or more) and somewhere around £6,500 for base, siting and installation.

Not only is this going to be lovely park for holidays and weekends, but the owners have also shown a real regard for their customers' interests."

Talk to Les or Glenys Moseley on 01248 490059 or write to them at Parc Y Wern, Llangoed, Beaumaris, Anglesey, LL58 8NY

www.parc-y-wern.co.uk

Article reproduced from Park Homes & Holiday Caravan Magazine
December 2003

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