16 July 2009
Mike Larkman Launches PHLAGS
Mike Larkman Launches PHLAGS
A new organisation which will ‘Fly the Flag for Park Home Residents in Scotland” is how Mike Larkman describes his new initiative, PHLAGS.
The new organisation, ‘Park Home Legislation Action Group, Scotland’ has been formed by Mike in concert with Barry Plews, a former Chair of the Residents Group at Monksmuir Park Estate near Haddington.
“PHLAGS”, says Mike, is “Born out of frustration and concern, firstly about the weakness and inequality of the existing park home legislation in Scotland and secondly about the delay on the part of the Scottish Government to introduce changes to that legislation which would provide greater protection and safeguards for park home residents.”
Barry and Mike believe strongly that here in Scotland there should be a mechanism that allows those organisations with an interest in Park Home living - Site Owners, Residents organisations, legislators and other relevant external bodies to share information and gather knowledge on all matters referring to residential park home living and play a major role in influencing change to the current legislation effecting Park Homes.
The founders of PHLAGS believe that the best way of achieving this would be through the creation of a Parliamentary cross party group similar to that already in existence in the English Parliament which is successfully led by Lord Graham of Edmonton and played a major part in persuading the English Parliament to introduce revised and improved legislation in 2006 /2007.
PHLAGS has grown from Mike’s work as Chairman of the WWRA when he sat on a consultative Committee of the Scottish Government in 2008, looking at Park Home legislation, but he grew concerned when the activity seemed to stall at government level.
Some progress has already been made with support from our local MSP Angela Constance. Ian Gray, leader of the Labour Party in the Scottish Parliament has taken an interest in the Monksmuir park. A meeting with Scottish Government officials and PHLAGS took
