We're good to go with safety first, say Devon holiday parks

One of Devon's largest holiday park operators, Park Holidays UK, says bookings have "avalanched" in the run-up to the re-opening of its six major parks in the county.

The group says it is having to deal with holiday requests on a "first come, first served" basis as families get ready to enjoy their first taste of real freedom in months.

Its Devon parks – which in high season can together accommodate up to 2,000 people every night - are located in Brixham where there are two, Barnstable, Dawlish, Dawlish Warren and Paignton.

Behind-the-scenes preparations for re-opening have been going for weeks, says group director Tony Clish, and are designed to ensure maximum peace of mind for guests.

"Our parks are ideal for social distancing as holiday homes are all at least five metres apart, but we have also put in place many other measures to ensure safety," he said.

"Check-ins will not involve any physical contact with staff, and all members of our team will wear PPE where appropriate, and be temperature checked on their arrival at work each day.

"There will be plenty of hand sanitising stations, and all holiday homes will be deep cleaned between visits and then sealed until opened up by the next family.

"Some facilities such as pools and indoor entertainment might not be available, but all of our parks are located near some of Devon's loveliest beaches and countryside.

"We're ready to go, and our teams are really looking forward to providing the unforgettable holiday experience which Britain deserves after so many weeks of lockdown," added Mr Clish.

He said that guests are able to book without any fears of what would happen in the event of an additional future lockdown or if they were told to self-isolate.

In either case, a full refund or no-cost postponement would be offered without quibble.

The re-opening of its Devon holiday parks, said Mr Clish, is likely to be widely welcomed by the many smaller county businesses which rely on tourism spending:

"We are very much a part of the local communities where our parks are located, and we know it's been a tough year for many retailers and visitor attractions.

"They need the income provided by our parks, and this year we will be encouraging visitors to get out and spend in the area by providing special offers and discounted entry prices.

"Parks are a major contributor to Devon's regional economy, and we're thrilled to be back in business and playing our part," said Mr Clish.

Meanwhile, he said, families planning a summer stay on one of its Devon parks should book as early as possible as peak capacity is already approaching for many dates.

The latest deals and dates are on Park Holidays UK's website at www.ParkHolidays.com