Angus Council has been accused of “robbing” occupants of Montrose’s administration-hit South Links caravan park by issuing them with a shock bill for almost £1,000 each.
The local authority says it has incurred a series of costs since it took over the running of South Links Holiday Park.
It is now looking to recover the money it has spent from the site’s residents despite the fact they have already paid their site fees for the year.
The council terminated its lease with previous site operator Wow Leisure Ltd in May claiming the company had failed to meet conditions, including not paying rent. The company has since gone into administration.
Angus Council has now claimed that conditions at the site were of such a low standard that the park would have had to close on health and safety grounds unless work was undertaken.
The “essential checks and repairs” included work on the electricity and sanitation, provision of fire alarms and the supply of other safety equipment.
Playpark equipment was removed and the council is also planning to install a new controlled barrier entry system.
The council also has plans to recruit on-site wardens.
It is now taking action to recover the money it has spent from the residents who have been told they will now have to pay an “in-year” charge of £790 plus VAT.
One caravan owner told The Courier: “Out of the blue we’ve been asked for almost £1,000 despite the fact we’ve already paid more than £2,300 in site fees for the year.
“I love having a caravan at the site but I simply don’t know how I’m going to be able to pay this extra amount.
“There are a lot of pensioners at the site who I know are also worried about how they are going to pay this.
“The owners were told this at a private meeting with the council and there was a lot of anger about the bill.”
Discussing the additional fee, a lodge owner said he felt like he was “being robbed” by the council.
The council said they would keep next year’s site fees at the current level of £1,950 plus VAT (£2,340).
A council spokesman said: “There is an in-year charge of £790 (net of vat) payable to the council, which is based on site rental staff and property costs, as well as supplies and services and occupancy.
“Next year’s fees will be £1,950 (net of VAT) and have been frozen at this year’s level.
“Previous fees were paid to the former operator and were not received by the council.
“As the current operator, we now have a duty to try to recover, so far as possible, expenditure incurred through the safe running of the site.”