Residents WILL be allowed to stay at Northampton holiday park for whole year due to pandemic

A Northampton holiday park has finally confirmed to residents that they will not have to leave for a ‘winter break’ in 2021.

Residents at Billing Aquadrome and Cogenhoe Holiday Park would normally have to vacate the park for three weeks in January, as part of the licence agreement of owning a mobile home.

Due to the pandemic, the break scheduled to begin on January 6, 2021, will not go ahead and residents can stay put, free of charge.

The announcement comes after many residents were left concerned about where they would live for three weeks, as some have had holidays cancelled and others who would usually stay with family members are unsure if this will be allowed, due to pandemic rules.

After months of uncertainty, Pure Leisure - owner of the parks - has confirmed to residents that the break will not happen in the 2021 season and Northampton South MP, Andrew Lewer has explained that the delay was due to securing permission from both local authorities which the Cogenhoe park falls under.

In a letter sent to residents, general manager of the parks, Nigel Pilsworth, said: “We will be extending the 2021 holiday season and as a result the Billing Aquadrome and Cogenhoe Mill Holiday Park will remain open from January 6 2021, throughout their respective normal winter close down periods.

“The government has encouraged holiday parks to take this exceptional measure, which has been agreed with the support of both local councils.

“It is very important to stress that this change only applies to the 2021 season.

“We will revert back to our normal season length with the winter closedown in 2022, in accordance with the licence conditions for each park.

“For clarity, there will be no additional site fee charge for this extended period.

“Additionally, we will still need to carry out the normal annual park maintenance during what would have been the closedown period, which may affect utilities from time to time.

“We will keep disruptions to a minimum, but thank you in advance for your support with this.

“We would like to take the opportunity to thank both authorities and local MPs for their support with this decision.”

After receiving 'quite a number' of emails from worried caravan owners, Mr Lewer became involved in the process and has also explained why there was a delay in reaching the positive outcome for residents.

Mr Lewer added: “I spoke to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government who pointed out that he relaxed planning restrictions in July and to contact the local council.

"We contacted the park owners, the Director of Planning, the Leader of the Borough Council and the Deputy Chief Executive of the County Council who were all unanimous that Billing Aquadrome and Cogenhoe Mill park should remain open.

"It was a little complicated with Cogenhoe Mill as the park overlaps the border of the Borough Council with South Northants Council which took a little time to secure their permission, but I am glad to say that the owners have now written officially to all caravan owners with the good news.

"This has been such a stressful time for caravan owners and I am glad we have resolved everything."

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