THE DISTRICT’S MP has used a House of Commons debate to name and shame a mobile home park owner accused of intimidating his tenants with ‘disgusting bullying tactics’.

Residents of Breach Barns park in Galley Hill, Waltham Abbey, claim site owner Maurice Sines has been harassing them and blocking home sales for several years in a bid to lower prices and push them out.

They have repeatedly lobbied Parliament and written to Epping Forest MP Eleanor Laing in their quest to cement their rights under UK law.

Now Mrs Laing has lent her support to the Mobile Homes Bill which, if passed, would reform licensing, prevent sale blocking and make it an offence to tell lies to prevent a home being sold.

Speaking during the bill’s second reading in the Commons on Friday, she said Mr Sines had 'deliberately, over a period of more than 10 years, made the lives of the people who live there a misery'.

Mrs Laing told the Guardian: "I know there are many people in our local mobile homes parks, and I know from other Members of Parliament who have similar problems with Mr Sines, that there are a lot of people who are afraid of this man and his family and his employees.

"Somebody has to stand up to him and I think it's my duty to do that."

She said she had stopped writing to Mr Sines because he did not respond and had never agreed to a meeting.

"I remember when these parks were trouble-free and pleasant places. There was a lovely atmosphere,” she said.

"And then Mr Sines took over. The disgusting bullying tactics that he has used to get his own way are unacceptable."

She added she was confident the bill would become law and could be in force in four to five months.

Chrissie Theobald, 67, has lived in Breach Barns park for 34 years and is treasurer of its residents' committee.

She said: "It's absolutely brilliant. We have been fighting for this for years.

"We think Mrs Laing put herself on the line and said his name. We are so happy because now the House of Commons have heard us.

"It was a lovely park. We have got some really nice people that have been here years.

"It will stop him from threatening, intimidating, especially the elderly.

"I'm determined that I'm not going to let him win," she added.

Fellow residents' committee member Alan Cordet, 69, said: "One of the big problems is when people are trying to sell their homes.

"Hopefully it'll give us a bit more leverage, as long as we've got it in writing."

The Guardian has contacted Mr Sines and is awaiting a response.

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