FOUR people have been arrested following a fraud investigation into the alleged mis-selling of holiday homes.
All are connected to the Lakeminster Park site in Woodmansey, where about 100 people, mostly pensioners, live full-time in homes designated for holiday use.
Some residents claim they were told the properties, which they bought several years ago, could be full-time homes.
But they have since been served with East Riding Council enforcement notices telling them they cannot stay at Lakeminster unless they have another, permanent address.
One Lakeminster resident, who asked not to be named, welcomed the arrests, saying: "We've been living our life in limbo.
"People came here with a dream to retire and they've ended up with nothing except stress.
"People have died on here without it being resolved."
Another Lakeminster pensioner said: "It's been awful. It's had an horrendous impact on people living here because we don't know what will happen."
The planning permission dispute has run alongside a police investigation into how the homes were sold.
Humberside Police has now swooped on addresses in the East Riding and Cheshire to arrest four people in connection with allegations of fraud.
A force spokesman said: "This relates to the sale of retirement homes at Lakeminster Park, Beverley.
"All four have been released on bail, pending further enquires."
The four people arrested have not been named.
They are a 50-year-old man from Wilmslow, Cheshire, a 52-year-old woman from South Cave, a 31-year-old Beverley woman and a 64-year-old man from Beverley.
Whispers about the arrests spread around the quiet chalet community off Hull Road, near Beverley.
The people there are split into two camps.
Some want legal action over how they say the homes were sold and others are fighting a planning battle with East Riding Council.
Both sides are concerned over speaking out publicly in case they prejudice either the investigation or the planning inquiry, set to start on June 4.
Some will address the planning inquiry. Others may have to give evidence relating to the fraud allegations.
Gosschalks Solicitors, of Queens Gardens, Hull, is representing more than 70 residents of Lakeminster Park in connection with claims relating to the sale of their park homes.
A statement from the solicitors said: "Gosschalks welcomes the news of the continued police investigation and awaits with interest the outcome of the police enquiries."
Regardless of the ongoing police investigation, Lakeminster property owners could yet see the council's enforcement action overturned by the planning inquiry.
One of those working with planning consultants Ads-Plan to challenge East Riding Council's refusal of planning permission is resident Dave Foulstone. Alongside another resident, Alan Coates, he has led the fight for the homes to be given planning permission.
Mr Foulstone has previously outlined some of the residents' views, saying: "The council is going to have to come up with something that doesn't involve kicking us off. They've been taking full council tax, they've endorsed our living there."
