Flood-hit caravan park sets dates for reopening

A CARAVAN park which was devastated by flooding in December is finally set to reopen.

Pictures emerged of caravans floating down the nearby River Dee while the wreckage of roofs and windows was strewn all over the site when Storm Frank hit the area.

But Ballater Caravan Park in Aberdeenshire is set to reopen next month following a massive clean-up at the site.

Much of Aberdeenshire was affected by flooding and Ballater was one of the worsthit areas.

Tourists were forced to evacuate the caravan park when the Dee burst its banks. There were 102 static caravans at the site but 40 ended up missing.

Many of the remaining caravans were ruined and had to be demolished.

However, after a clear-up with an estimated cost of £100,000, the caravan park will reopen on May 13 or 14.

Ian Wisely, one of the park’s directors, said: “We have upgraded all our stances to comply with the current legislation. It is back up to date.

“It is going to look pretty special because it is substantially renovated. I think it is going to look great.”

He said that more had to be done to protect the static caravans at the site in future.

He added: “We are really like everyone else in Ballater, waiting on positive news about flood defences.”

Businesses in Ballater were also badly affected by the flooding, though many have since reopened.

Deeside Books, a shop in the village, was forced to put hundreds of water-damaged books in bin bags outside on the street. The local golf course also suffered significant damage.