Owners of five caravans at Trecco Bay holiday park in Porthcawl are concerned about the impact of a strict rule that requires vans to be removed after 15 years on site. Niaomi Flowers, 39, from Porthcawl, may have to stop running the SEN Den at the park because two of the five caravans she uses will soon no longer be allowed to remain there.
Trecco Bay, like many caravan parks in Wales, enforces an age limit on vans to keep the park modern and appealing. The rule has been criticised by some owners who argue they pay significant ground rent and should be allowed to stay as long as they wish.
What is the SEN Den?
Niaomi, a mother of six, has four children with special educational needs (SEN). She started the SEN Den from Trecco Bay because she found it difficult to go on holiday as a mum, with few places properly accommodating SEN families. The five vans provide specially adapted holiday homes where children can holiday with their parents in a break that suits their needs.
The caravans are designed with SEN families in mind, featuring safety locks on all doors, windows and cupboards, as well as WiFi, smart TVs, toys and sensory items such as mood lighting, wobble cushions and trampolines.
Funding and fundraising efforts
Niaomi explained that the family bought one caravan privately and started renting it out, quickly realising the demand was high. "We do it all voluntary so we don't take a penny in wages for any of the work that we do," she said. The family spent £120,000 on four additional caravans to rent out, but have had to sell several due to funding issues. Now they could potentially lose their remaining caravans in the coming years.
Niaomi said she was warned by Parkdean, the park's owners, that she would either have to upgrade the vans or leave. One van is up for renewal in 2028 and another in 2029. She said there is no way the SEN Den could afford to replace them alone.
Park's response and community support
A spokesperson for Trecco Bay Holiday Park said: "We are aware of the positive impact The SEN Den has had on many families visiting our park over the years and we would love to see it continue providing memorable holidays." They added that the caravan replacement policy applies to all owners and helps maintain high standards of quality and safety.
Niaomi and her family have started a GoFundMe page with a goal of raising £25,000, though they will need roughly £40,000 to purchase a second-hand caravan. She said she was initially told by Parkdean they had one year to source a new van, but after a conversation between WalesOnline and Parkdean, they now have two years to fundraise for one van and three years for another. She said: "Without the community we may find ourselves unable to replace these caravans and hundreds of families will be affected."
