RESIDENTS of an East Cholderton residential park have been left outraged by a doubling of their water charges after, they say, the site owners failed to fix a leak.

Mobile home owners of Elmstead Park were angered when Wyldecrest Parks Management Ltd wrote to them in February confirming that their water charges will be increased by more than 100 per cent for the coming year.

From April, monthly charges to residents have increased from £5.70 to £13.51 – an increase of 137 per cent – meaning that yearly charges have increased from £68.40 per year to £162.12.

Water to the site is metered by Southern Water then divided between the 46 homes who then pay by monthly direct debit.

During one quarter between December 2013 and March 2014 charges for the site were £4,075.23 which is, they say, when Wyldecrest failed to fix the leak that has resulted in the increased charges.

However, Wyldecrest say that the leak which caused the increase was Southern Water’s responsibility and they are seeking a rebate which will be passed on to the residents.

Residents believe that the leak causing the increased charges occurred off one of the communal paths between the properties which Wyldecrest are responsible for maintaining under the Mobile Homes Act.

Paul Ayers, who has lived on the site with his wife Sue for 16 years, said: “I feel very strongly about it, not only is it in breach of their obligations but it is the principle of the thing that really winds me up.”

Mrs Ayers added: “There are elderly residents here and that amount of money is a lot for them to find every month.”

Another resident, Norma Viney, said: “I don’t mind paying for what we use but not for what has gone down the drain for their lack of maintenance.”

Speaking to the Advertiser, Wyldecrest chairman Alfie Best maintains his firm repaired the leak within seven days and the leak causing the increase in the rates was another towards the site entrance for which Southern Water was responsible.

Mr Best said: “We negotiated these charges with the water company to give our residents the very best rates possible.”