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Bob and Lynn Garrett moved to Fenland Village in 2000 during the early stages of the park’s development. Formerly from Peterborough, the Garrett’s criteria for moving was to be closer to their daughter in Wisbech whilst downsizing at the same time.
It was a local estate agent who suggested the Fenland Village development and first introduced Bob and Lynn to park homes. Neither had seen anything like these homes before but were impressed enough after their initial visit to take the leap and sell their bricks and mortar house to start their new lifestyle.
Bob suggested many benefits to the park, but most important was the high level of security enjoyed by having only one entrance and exit to the park. That combined with an active neighbourhood watch scheme has provided a safer than normal environment for all the park’s residents.
This unique community atmosphere goes further than keeping watch over one another’s properties though, Bob explained that they all muck in and look after their neighbours’ homes while they are away, cutting lawns, watering plants and in general offering any help they can.
As is typical on these parks, the residents’ association is very active and always planning for the next event, whether that be a show, a trip to the seaside or the big Christmas outing such as the one to Thursford that they all enjoyed last year. With golf, fishing and bowling on your doorstep there’s plenty to amuse you, and if it’s the shops you’re after, Lynn tells me she regularly walks into town.
Every weekend Bob and Lynn take advantage of the open fields adjacent to the park and wander along the River Nene for an hour or two, then make their way back leisurely through the neighbouring farmland.
I asked Bob if either of them had any preconceived ideas about moving to a park home and while neither of them did, Bob laughed as he recounted several friends that had visited them and said “Oh… this is nice, we thought you lived in a caravan!”
For some, there may be still a stigma attached to this kind of living but once you have stepped inside one of these homes you will struggle to criticise them. Lynn mentioned that the home is very easy to maintain and keep warm through the winter months, better in some homes than a brick built equivalent.
I asked Bob and Lynn if there was any helpful advice they could pass on to an enquiring reader and they felt people should realise there is a ground rent to include in your budget that goes toward the upkeep of the communal areas and roads (a street sweeper comes through every week), provision of grit bins, and general maintenance. Also, many don’t realise that if you choose to sell your home, Tingdene Parks require 10% of the sale price.
Bob and Lynn are thoroughly enjoying their lifestyle and don’t regret any part of their decision to move.
My thanks go out to Bob and Lynn for their time and for their kind hospitality on my recent visit.
Adrian Salisbury, Optical FX on behalf of Tingdene Parks Ltd
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