SOME of Devon’s most vulnerable communities will be protected by a new move to levy charges on mobile home sites.

Members of Teignbridge Council’s executive committee were unanimous in backing a plan to charge the owners of the sites a licence fee.

Well run sites will be inspected just once a year, with a basic annual charge levied.

However, sites deemed ‘very high risk’ could have up to five inspections a year, increasing the cost to their owners.

“This is about protecting some of our most vulnerable communities,” said Cllr David Palethorpe (Lib Dem, Ipplepen).

The council currently licences 35 residential mobile home sites, running to around 1,400 units of accommodation.

They range from large sites with more than 200 units to single unit sites.

It does not currently charge any fees, but could receive up to £30,000 by levying charges, depending on how many sites require the higher risk levels of observation.

Cllr Palethorpe said the costs would be borne by the site operators, and not the people living in the mobile homes.

“They house many people who are vulnerable and old,” he said. “We carry our compliance work to protect their safety and quality of life.

“Well-run sites will have nothing to fear from this policy.”

Cllr Peter Williams (Lib Dem, Teignmouth East) agreed: “As the sites get better, so the site owners are rewarded with reduced costs. It’s an incentive.”.