PARKDEAN resorts, which runs Thorness Bay, Nodes Point and Shanklin's Landguard Manor and Lower Hyde, has closed the parks with immediate effect. 

It follows concern from people on the Isle of Wight and across the country that continued operations were putting pressure on local resources, as the battle to stop coronavirus continues.

The UK’s largest holiday park operator and Best UK Family Holiday Company 2019, Parkdean Resorts, has announced the closure of its parks to holiday makers from Sunday March 22 until May 1.

It said:

  • Parkdean Resorts will be offering all holiday makers who had booked to stay at its parks during this time a full refund, or they have the option to roll their booking, with a credit voucher worth 120% of the original booking.
  • All facilities and all touring and camping provision is cancelled until 1 May.
  • Access to parks will be denied to third parties and controlled as normal by our security teams.

Steve Richards, Chief Executive Officer, said: “Parkdean Resorts has 67 parks across the UK and our company plays a big role in local communities, whether it be through investment, tourism or employment. As such, we have been in conversation with community leaders, customers and our people, and have decided to delay the launch of the season. 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.

“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.”

Earlier, the operator said it was operating within government guidelines.

Read more: Quarantine the Isle of Wight? Parkdean, MP and others' messages to tourists