Holiday park operator Parkdean Resorts to close Grannies Heilan Hame in Embo with immediate effect; announcement follows criticism from Highlanders that site was continuing to welcome guests amid Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak
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A HOLIDAY park operator which had been criticised for continuing to keep its sites open during the coronavirus outbreak has announced their closure to the public with immediate effect.
Parkdean Resorts, which runs Grannies Heilan Hame at Embo and the Lochloy Holiday Park in Nairn, issued a statement shortly after 3pm confirming that it will be closing all sites from today until May 1st in response to the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak.
Parkdean had drawn criticism yesterday from Sutherland residents worried that Grannies Heilan Hame was continuing to welcome guests – and raised worries over the potential added pressure on food supplies and stretched NHS resources.
But those fears will now have eased following this afternoon's announcement.
And in further good news, the firm has announced that all of its staff will keep their jobs, and continue to be paid 100 per cent of their wages.
Food banks also look set to benefit, as the firm has announced it will donate all perishable food items to help the local communities.
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 May 1.
“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.”
All holidaymakers affected by the five-week closure will be able to claim a full refund or have the option of rolling their booking to a future date "with a credit voucher worth 120 per cent of the original booking".
Parkdean added that all facilities, touring and camping provision will cease during the closure, and access to the parks will be denied to all third parties. Security teams will continue to patrol the sites, as per normal.
Today's announcement follows a move by Parkdean Resorts yesterday to shut all on-site bars, restaurants, swimming pools, leisure facilities, sports and entertainment, and amenities.
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