Locked down and locked out – Trecco tells park guests to leave suddenly
WALES’ largest caravan park closed with immediate effect last night as a local lockdown came into force across a large swathe of south Wales.
The owners of the popular Trecco Bay caravan park in Porthcawl said the site would go into “hibernation” as of 6pm yesterday, as local lockdowns came into force in Bridgend county as well as Merthyr Tydfil, Blaenau Gwent and Newport.
Trecco Bay is Europe’s largest holiday park and falls within the Bridgend council area, forcing bosses to close the park with immediate effect.
The rules mean people can only enter or leave the area with a reasonable explanation.
Parkdean Resorts, the company which runs the site, said all holidaymakers and holiday home owners on the site had been asked to leave the park “as soon as possible”.
They will be offered a full refund, a credit note for 120% of their holiday price (up to a maximum of £150) or the option to re-book a break at another park, the company said. Guests due to travel to the park within the next two weeks have also been contacted and offered a refund.
Steve Richards, CEO of Parkdean Resorts, which owns Trecco Bay, yesterday said: “Trecco has an enviable record of providing safe and fun holidays for its hard working Welsh customers,” he said.
“Since reopening on July 11 for holiday home owners and July 13 for holidaymakers, Trecco has welcomed over 50,000 people to park.
“Holiday parks are by their nature typically located in rural, isolated locations by the coast and not in heavily populated urban areas.
“The density of people per square metre is considerably less than in town centres and has the added benefit of coastal and rural fresh air, which is vital for mental and physical good health.
“The caravans and lodges on our parks are individual, with no shared doors or communal areas, they are self-contained, self-catered and have no shared air-conditioning systems.
“This closure will affect many businesses and jobs in Porthcawl who rely on the regular influx of tourists to the area and, of course it will mean many hardworking Welsh people who account for over 90% of our guests, will now not be able to enjoy a well-earned break.”
It was not immediately known how many holidaymakers were on the site yesterday.
Sean Gattrell, 25, from Newport, was among those asked to leave the site.
He arrived on Friday with his partner Chloe Brant, 21, and 14-monthold baby Layla Gattrell, 14 months, together with other family members.
They were meant to stay until this Friday, but were suddenly asked to leave yesterday afternoon.
Sean said: “We overheard one of the Parkdean members say that at 6pm they were leaving. Customers were told they had to leave by 6pm. “They just basically said with the restrictions coming in they had to close – the whole park had to close.
“We have had three-and-a-half to four hours to pack everything and get the baby ready to get off the site.”
Sean said the family have been told they will be fully refunded for the booking, but he now faces further heartbreak as he lives in a different area to his partner.
They also faced a challenging journey were travelling by bus and train to get home so are in for a long journey.
“My partner and my baby are from Cardiff,” he added.
“It’s hard to get everything together because we had to bring extra for the baby. “It’s mixed emotions – it’s sad because I live in Newport. I am separated from my partner and my baby. I’m in lockdown and they are not. Layla has enjoyed the holiday, but she is just so confused now.”