News Round-up: Holiday parks with big plans for next season…

Yorkshire coast park opens new sensory playroom

Sand le Mere Holiday Village has become the first park in the country to open a sensory playroom for children with autism.

The park, near Withernsea, has also provided a second room as a place of rest and comfort for parents.

The second room has a soft setting where parents can calm their children down and reflect on the experience they have shared as a family in the furnished playroom, reports the Hull Daily Mail.

The playroom is free for guests staying at the park and has been named after Sonny Cooke, the son of complex manager Allan Cooke who inspired the project. Mr Cooke said: “As a parent of a child with autism I see the wonderful benefits a sensory room provides.

“Going on holiday can be a scary experience for people with autism. Having a safe and calming place helps to ease their worries.”

Amby Tatla, general manager at Sand le Mere, encouraged local groups to use make use of the sensory room: “We are proud to work closely with groups such as Hull Active Day Care, who support young adults with additional needs and visit the park to swim, eat lunch and play sport.

“Having our own dedicated sensory space means that we can provide support to even more people, and we would be delighted to hear from any groups who are interested in finding out more.”

Expansion at Lincolnshire holiday park draws objections from locals

A Lincolnshire Wolds holiday park’s plans for an additional 35 holiday homes have been met with over 100 objections from local residents – and the area’s MP.

They claim that Kingsmead Parks’ plans, if approved, could destroy a local beauty spot.

The park currently has 72 residential caravans on site at its base at Swinhope. The new application would see 35 additional lodge caravans built on adjacent land.

Sir Edward Leigh MP told the Lincolnshire Reporter: “Ordinary residents in the area simply do not want the extra visitors and noise foist upon them.

“Were this application to be approved this will put increasing pressure on the roads as well as other local services which may be unable to operate at the same standard they currently do.”
However, a statement in support of the plans said the application would mitigate against the effect on the local environment.

“The proposed holiday lodges would generate local employment both directly at the site and indirectly through the off-site spending by visitors at other local service providers in the district.

“The holiday park use will provide an opportunity for recreation in the countryside, particularly walking in the local area, promoting good health and social interaction.

“The application site is well screened and with additional planting and control of the proposed cladding of the lodges, the proposed use will not have any detrimental effect on the character and appearance of the AONB.”

The application will go before West Lindsey District Council in the coming weeks.

Cornish holiday park unveils new lodges as part of £1.6million development

A new 22-lodge development has been unveiled at Whiteacres Holiday Park near Newquay – just in time for the summer season.

The Parkdean Resorts-owned site unveiled its Nelson’s Meadows development recently which is part of the company’s overall £4.5million investment at its eight parks in Cornwall.

The firm said that 11 of the lodges are also available for holiday home ownership with prices starting from £139,995, attracting owners from both in and outside of the region, reports Cornwall Live.

White Acres boasts an indoor heated swimming pool with spa bath, sauna and gym, 13 coarse fishing lakes, Polkeris Bar Pizzeria and Grill and the Lakeside Club which hosts live family entertainment each evening.

John Waterworth, chief executive at Parkdean Resorts, said: “White Acres is a truly special holiday park in a picturesque part of the UK, which makes it an ideal location for Nelson’s Meadow.

“Looking on to countryside and lake views, the new lodges are as striking as their surroundings, offering holidaymakers and those keen to own a home away from home a dose of luxury to retreat to for a short break or more regular getaways.

“The development forms a large part of our investment in Cornwall this year, and we hope guests and those who become owners enjoy making many happy memories in the new lodges.”