The British Holiday and Home Parks Association urges sites to close

The British Holiday and Home Parks Association has advised all of its 2,900 UK holiday and touring parks to close with immediate effect.

This includes all touring guests (those with touring caravans, motorhomes, campervans and tents), all those who rent self-catering holiday accommodation (glamping, holiday caravans and lodges), and all the owners of holiday caravans located on the parks.

In a statement released by the association yesterday, it was recognised that in some instances, however, this may not be necessary and might put those already self-isolating on-site at further risk: "Whilst we acknowledge that a complete closure of all holiday parks would be desirable, doing so would – in some instances – result in actions contrary to the advice of Government," it said.

"Where the owners of holiday caravans have self-isolated and are presently in situ on the holiday park, requiring them to return home, often a considerable distance away, would necessitate journeys of the type we are all being asked to avoid in order to mitigate the risk of spreading the virus and may send them back to the very risk they have isolated from.

"BH&HPA is currently in discussion with Government on this matter, and we are suggesting that the best interests of holiday caravan owners, as well as the general public, will only be served by a sensitive approach to customers’ individual needs."

The British Holiday & Home Parks Association is currently waiting on further advice from the Government on the management of holiday parks specifically.