Council leader Ann Shaw has hit back at claims that the council failed to take action to help residents at a mobile-park home site in Abbots Langley.  

St Albans MP Anne Main, whose constiuency is Bedmond led a parliamentary debate on the rights of park-home residents at Newlands Park in Abbots Langley on November 5, which, among many issues, highlighted Three Rivers District Council's failure to take action. 

In a lettered response to MP Stephen Williams at the department for communities and local government, Councillor Shaw addressed Newlands Park's unreasonable management behaviour, site repairs claims and the council's failure to take action. 

As well as outlining the only ways the council could have dealt with these issues, and explaining that the council had reported and responded to these matters appropriately before Ms Main intervened, Councillor Shaw stated that in the run-up to the General Election, MPs should check their facts properly before seeking the glare of publicity or issuing ex-cathedra criticism. 

Anne Main MP said: "I was disappointed with Councillor Shaw's letter and I am especially saddened to read that she believes my desire to help the vulnerable residents of Newlands Park is purely political. 

"This is not a party-political issue. When constituents ask me for help, it is my responsibility as their representative to listen and assist them in any way I can. The residents contacted me only after contacting the council on numerous occasions. They felt they had exhausted all other available avenues. 

"When I was approached by elderly residents they were feeling vulnerable, ignored and helpless. I do not know how many residents Ms Shaw has spoken to, but when I was invited to visit the site, I spoke to a large number of residents who were deeply unhappy and concerned with the way the site was being managed. 

"Unfortunately, despite the fundamental problems that I witnessed on site, it appears from her letter that Ms Shaw does not believe that there is a problem with the running of Newlands Park. I would encourage Councillor Shaw to visit Newlands Park and speak to some of the residents - I am sure that they would very much welcome her interest in their case. It is a great shame that she has dismissed the concerns of my constituents and my attempts to assist them as party politicking."

According to Three Rivers Councillor Matthew Bedford, for Abbots Langley and Bedmond ward, Ms Main has misled residents. 

He said: "The council's powers are limited and the new legislation does not enable the council to deal with the issues raised by residents. 

"For instance, there is no formal power to force the site owner to repair the supply of utilities. However on each occasion such a problem has been reported to the council, we have liased with the owners, who have carried out the necessary works. Three Rivers site licences cover the same clauses as the Government department's own Model Conditions. 

"The Council has written to Mrs Main and the Government Minister to explain the failings in the Act of Parliament passed last year. The council will continue to do as much as we can within the law to support residents by working  with the site owners."