Trouble at Fitties! Some chalet owners are unhappy with park owners - and also with the Grimsby News!

                                        

Rumblings of discontent - the chalet park as seen from the dunes

THERE has been a backlash to a report (September 17) in the Grimsby News blog about the level of investment in the Humberston Fitties chalet park by Tingdene Holiday Parks Ltd, its owners since 2016.

There are 320 chalets on the park, and a significant minority - at least 30 - of owners have taken to social media to claim that our account was unduly favourable, not to say sycophantic, towards the Northamptonshire-based company. 

They reckon on our perspective was skewed in not acknowledging the financial burden on residents from increased charges - for instance, on ground rent and electricity connection.

Some also challenged the extent of commitment shown by the company in its upkeep of the chalet  park and whether it really looks any more cherished than in the days of local authority ownership.

Tingdene's mantra reads as follows: "Maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction is of utmost importance to the business, and the directors understand fully that service and quality levels are key in maintaining customer satisfaction."

But, as the saying goes, fine words butter no parsnips.

For a company with such splendid aspirations, it does seem to have developed an unfortunate record of exasperating at least some of  its customers - not just on the Fitties but also, based on local newspaper reports, at other  of its sites elsewhere in the country.

Having paid North East Lincolnshire Council £2.15-million for a 125-year lease on the park, Tingdene obviously seeks both to recoup its investment and to make its purchase profitable.

Other than through rental income, its opportunities for revenue generation are relatively limited.

Ideally, it would like to sell off the 11 vacant plots, preferably with the benefit planning consent from the council for them to be redeveloped.

That would provide a significant boost to company coffers and perhaps encourage the directors to pause  the rental increases that are proving such a bugbear to existing chalet owners.

In the meantime, the company has  work to do if it genuinely seeks to restore that most precious and underrated of commodities -  goodwill. 

Despite its cheerful-sounding  name, Tingdene Holiday Parks Ltd seems - at least to some - to present a cold and unresponsive face.

Does it want to be known as a business whose motivation is so twisted by the money-making imperative that it has lost its soul?

Its top team - that is to says its directors - might consider going walkabout on Anthony's Bank, chatting to the chalet owners  and, dare it be said, listening their ideas and suggestions.

There is still plenty of time until Christmas.  Perhaps it could  organise a seasonal party for children (with the managing director as Father Christmas) or, failing that, some other festive jollity.

At the very least, a tub of Quality Street toffees for each chalet might not come amiss.