Gwynedd caravan dealer found guilty of supplying dangerous motorhome

A Gwynedd caravan and motorhome dealer has been ordered to pay more than £11,000 for supplying a dangerous motorhome.

On Wednesday (22 June 2022), magistrates found Evans Caravans Ltd, who operate from two locations in Gwynedd, had been negligent and that the vehicle was potentially very dangerous.

The company, which has sales centres in Penrhyndeudraeth and Chwilog, was fined £8,000 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £190 and costs of £3,021 for committing an offence under the General Product Safety Regulations.

The case was brought by Gwynedd Council’s public protection service, after a member of the public highlighted concerns about gas and electrical installation in a motorhome purchased from the firm on 14 August, 2020.

A gas installation inspection report was undertaken on the motorhome by Gas Safe, and a significant number of at risk defects were identified including the LPG compartment being unsealed and the LPG compartment having inadequate ventilation and exposed electrical connections.

Unsatisfactory ventilation from gas appliances was found in the living area; the gas hob/grill had not been fitted with a flame supervision device on each burner; and the gas fridge was found to have an unsatisfactory flue which was not approved by the manufacturer.

An electrical assessment of the motorhome also considered the installation to be unsafe and dangerous.

The electrical installation was in close proximity to the gas supply locker; the consumer unit had not been secured in place, with possible access to live terminals within the consumer unit; electrical cables were not adequately secured and had no strain protection; a socket was incorrectly wired; the leisure battery had no vent for hydrogen gas.

Councillor Dafydd Meurig, the environment department’s cabinet member for Gwynedd Council said: “As a council, we have a duty to protect the safety of Gwynedd residents.

“Consumers should be able to have confidence that any product they purchase is considered safe.

“We will not hesitate to take necessary action against businesses who irresponsibly neglect their trading obligations by failing to supply goods to the required standard and unnecessarily putting people in danger.”