Coronavirus Kent: Parkdean resorts to close in Greatstone and St Margerets Bay

Published: 16:06, 22 March 2020

Updated: 16:52, 22 March 2020

Holiday park giant Parkdean Resorts is closing all of its parks amid the Covid-19 outbreak, the company has announced.

The operator, which owns two parks in Kent, will keep its sites closed until the beginning of May.

St Margaret’s Bay Holiday Park is one of two in Kent that have shut. Picture: Parkdean Resorts

Any holiday makers who had booked to stay at either Romney Sands in Greatstone, or St Margarets Bay in St Margarets-at-Cliffe will be given a choice as how to proceed.

They can either take a full refund, or roll on their booking with a credit voucher worth 120% of the original booking.

The company's CEO Steve Richards said: "We have been in conversation with community leaders, customers and our people, and have decided to delay the launch of the season.

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"We are very sorry to the many holiday makers who were hoping to spend their Easter break with us, but I hope they understand why.

“We will continually and closely review the Government’s guidance and hope to welcome people on park from 1 May.

"We are very sorry to the many holiday makers... but I hope they understand why..."

“As our parks are based in areas that rely on tourism, I would therefore like to reassure anyone working for Parkdean Resorts, and the communities they live in, that no one will be made redundant as a result of coronavirus, and we will be paying 100% salary.

“As Parkdean Resorts was gearing up for the Easter holidays, we have a significant amount of perishable food on park which will now be donated to local community food banks.”

The announcement comes as a number of retailers, including New Look, John Lewis, and Primark close their doors in an attempt to limit crowds gathering.

Haven Holiday Park also announced that they were closing their sites this week, including at Allhallows on Sea.

For the latest coronavirus news and advice, click here.

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