'Hidden community' of holiday homes living at risk
THOUSANDS of people living in chalets and caravans on the Lincolnshire coast are avoiding council tax, according to a new report.
But they are also putting them selves at risk because in the event of an emergency such as a fire or flood no one knows how many of these homes would need to be evacuated.
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At risk: An aerial view of thousands of caravans on the East Coast.
The report suggests that up to 30,000 people could be living 'under the radar' in the county. Now, caravan site owners and other landlords are to be asked to share their knowledge of the area.
The authority says it also hopes to identify more elderly and vulnerable residents not receiving the care, such as that from social services, they need.
County councillor Mark Anderson (Skegness) believes such communities needed to be on the map.
"We know that there is a hidden community," he said. "The latest estimates are between 20,000 and 30,000 people who are not on the electoral role.
"They are entitled to services, of course, but are currently not contributing towards them in the way of council tax. I personally believe that they should be contributing. Not only that but they may need the additional support that councils can offer."
Officers responsible for emergency plans in the event of times of crisis, such as flooding, are also trying to identify the hidden pockets of residents.
Lincolnshire's east coast is a high risk flood zone. Although it is protected – for now – the Environment Agency has warned that it may not be able to guarantee the same level of defences in the future.
An initial technical report on the subject, published by the East Midlands Regional Assembly, sets out the conflict between development and climate change. If and how to develop the coastal zones will be debated over the coming year.
3 Comments
by nutter, skegness
Friday, March 19 2010, 11:28PM
“we live in our caravan 3 days a week all our water elec and gas is turned off at the end of november we pay council tax on our bricks and morter home,would it be more beneficial to the lincolnshire authorities to track down the people who are claiming disability allowance who are not entitled to it we ahve seen no end of people walking very well but have a crutch attached to there arm and the ones who ride around on mobility scooters then park them up and walk into a shop it's laughable how they are blatant about it.”
by Phil Kemp, Skegness
Tuesday, February 10 2009, 2:49PM
“There are apparently a number of people who live in such accomodation who do not pay any Council Tax anywhere and it these people who are receiving services free of charge when all the rest of us have to pay.
If a person can prove they pay Council ax elsewhere and they stay in Skegness as a holiday home, they will not be required to pay Council Tax, but if they do not pay elsewhere, they will be presented with a bill in due course.
Paying ground rent is not necessarily the same as paying Council Tax and it is everyone's responsibility to ensure they do pay. Isn't this part of what the article is alluding to?”
by as, lincolnshire
Tuesday, February 10 2009, 1:38PM
“I own a holiday caravan at the east coast and i am aware that there is this 'hidden community' who stay at the coast all year round. You may not realise but the majority of holiday parks and caravan sites disconnect the mains water/electricity at the end of the season which is no later than end November and january for private sites. Most people then go into B&B or holiday abroad until the season reopens. In this case they do not need to pay council tax because they are not requiring services. All season they pay for services via their ground rent/rates then during winter the only service they may require is hospital/GP which is covered by their tax/insurance contributions via their wages which are put away for the winter months or their pensions. I don't know where you get the idea that people actually live in their vans/chalets all year round because they have no water or electricity facilities to enable them to do so!”