English caravan parks demand that Boris lets them open up on June 1 – like they are doing in Wales
CARAVAN parks across England are begging Boris Johnson to be allowed to open on June 1 like they are in Wales.
Many park owners fear they won't be able to open at all this year - unless they're ready for the summer tourist season.
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The director-general of the British Holiday & Home Parks Association (BH&HPA) Ros Pritchard has written to the Prime Minister asking that the 2,000 parks represented by the association are able to open next month, not July.
The initial plans set out by the government will see the hospitality industry such as hotels and resorts open by July 4.
However, park owners warn this is too late, having been closed since the middle of March and missing out on the important spring season.
The letter explains, according to : "If the Welsh approach were applied in England, that would mean some of our customers could come and stay from 1 June, rather than from 4 July as is currently proposed. One size does not fit all.
“For households which own their holiday caravan, the social-distancing requirements would be identical to those they already follow at their primary residence."
“For holidaymakers who rent holiday caravans and other accommodation from us (without shared facilities), we have well developed social-distancing measures which would safeguard against the risk of infection."
“We plead for the survival of our businesses and the communities they sustain."
He has cited caravan parks as "‘fresh air hotels," adding that they are naturally social distancing, while also recognising that on-site amenities such as pools and pubs may be forced to stay closed for longer.
BH&HPA spokesperson Jon Boston also reiterated that while communal areas such as cafes, swimming pools and bars may remain closed, the parks can reopen due to the self-contained nature of the facilities, as they all have their own kitchens and bathrooms.
He told Sun Online Travel: "Some parks close in late autumn, around October or November, and don't reopen until spring.
"Some are going to ask if they can open longer this year, which is why the association is asking for the government to support them through the winter."
Camping holidays may take longer to return, he warned, due to the reliance on shared facilities such as bathrooms, and may not even reopen until 2021.
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Mr Boston said he would be "very surprised" if camping sites come back this year.
We've rounded up some of the most beautiful caravan spots around the UK for a post-lockdown holiday.
Haven has slashed the price of their holidays this year as swimming pools and restaurants are expected to remain closed until further notice.
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