Holiday home gutted in suspicious blaze

Sep 14 2007 by Jule Wilson, The Journal

A MAN whose holiday home was gutted by fire claims he is the victim of a racially-aggravated arson attack.

Heartbroken Karl Barrett, 46, inherited a chalet at Overdene, Ovington, Northumberland, from his mum Aylis when she died 10 years ago.

The chalet, number 22 Overdene, was completely destroyed in a blaze early yesterday morning.

Mr Barrett is adamant he was deliberately targeted because of his Gypsy heritage, as he had been restoring a traditional travellers’ wagon on the site. Although police said while they were treating the fire as suspicious, they could not confirm any racially-aggravated motive.

Mr Barrett said: “This is a racist attack against Gypsy people. I could have been in there in bed, that’s what I keep thinking, but they timed this fire on purpose because I had only just finished the wagon after three months’ work. I’m gutted.”

A spokesman for Northumbria Fire and Rescue confirmed they were called to the site just before 2am and that they had tackled the flames for three-and-a-half hours.

He said: “Two appliances from Hexham and one from Prudhoe attended the fire and a number of chalets were affected. One was totally destroyed, one severely and one slightly. All the properties were unoccupied at the time of the incident and the cause is still being investigated.”

Mr Barrett, of Stanhope Way in Newcastle’s West End, explained that his mum, Aylis, was a member of the travelling community and he had been restoring her original wagon with his sons, Matthew, seven, and Michael, 10, as a holiday project.

He said: “We’ve been coming here every school holiday for the past 10 years and now I’ve got nowhere to take them in the summer. It’s heartbreaking.

“Everything’s been burnt to a cinder. What if my kids had been in there?”

Father-of-six Karl, who lives with his partner, Lynn Redshaw, claimed he had received numerous complaints about the wagon as soon as he brought it on to the site.

He said: “I made a sign for the chalet saying “Aylis’ Gypsy Cottage” and was asked to take it down as soon as it went up. I was told it could be read from the A69 about 500 yards away, which is just impossible, and that it was offensive.

“Well I’m proud of where I’m from and I won’t be beaten. I’ve still got the rear of the original wagon which I’d had to take home a few weeks ago, and as soon as I’ve got this place cleaned up I’m going to bring it back and park it here. It dates from 1883 and has been in my family for years.

“I just hope the police find who’s done this.”

Eric Moore, 61, whose own chalet was slightly damaged, has spent every weekend on the site for the past four years.

He said: “I don’t know why this has happened but there’s been a lot going on over the past few months. At least one other resident has had his van trashed as well. It’s just terrible.”

Agents for the site landowners, Smiths Gore of Corbridge, Northumberland, said they were aware of the fire but no residents had reported any prior problems to them.

A spokeswoman for Northumbria Police confirmed the blaze was being treated as suspicious and urged any witnesses to come forward. She said: “Following initial inquiries the fire is being treated as suspicious and police are investigating in order to establish what has happened.

“Detectives investigating the fire would like to speak to anyone who was in the area at the time, or may have any information.

“They should contact Northumbria Police on 0845 604-3043, or alternatively, information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.”