By Caravan sites “need to reopen to avoid bleak winter”
Caravan sites need to reopen for the busiest summer months or face a very bleak winter, a local holiday park operator has said.
At present, all sites across the country remain closed under the revised lockdown rules which permit people to travel to the coast but not to stay overnight.
Stuart Hardy, who runs sites in Skegness and Ingoldmells on the Lincolnshire coast, said:
“If we could get July or August it will give people a fighting chance.”
He said if they can’t reopen until September and miss the summer holiday season then there’s little point them opening at all.
“It’s back-to back winters for everybody then and it will be pretty devastating,” he added.
Cleethorpes’ Thorpe Park has confirmed that it will remain closed into peak season in line with operator Haven Holidays’ lockdown update.
It is expected that all 40 of Haven Holidays‘ parks, including Thorpe Park, will remain shut until at least July 2, when an update is expected. This is as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Thorpe Park has been largely deserted since closing in March due to the pandemic. It is a major local employer and makes a big contribution to the local economy.
The site is usually a hub of activity at this time of year.
In a recent statement issued by the company, a Haven spokesperson said:
“Despite recent changes to the Government’s lockdown restrictions, the safety of our guests and team remains our number one priority and so under the ongoing circumstances, we believe keeping our parks closed is the right thing to do.
“We appreciate how disappointing this decision will be for those families that were due to stay with us during this time and wish we could have offered them the Haven experience they were so excited for.
“We’d like to apologise for the disruption caused by the extended closure and hope guests can understand the reason for our decision.
“We are in the process of contacting all those affected with the new options available to them and would encourage guests to continue to check both our website and social media channels for additional updates.”
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