News round-up: Council ‘declares war on holiday park sector’

A Welsh holiday park operator has accused a local county council of declaring war on the industry after it voted to charge chalet owners an additional 25% in council tax – despite not living on park.

Park owner Thomas Scarrott said the county’s tourism industry could be dealt a devastating blow by the council’s decision – threatening the survival of small businesses and the jobs they provide locally.

Mr Scarrott’s family business owns five major caravan parks in the county, including Clarach Bay Holiday Village, near Aberystwyth. And it is here where owners of 143 holiday chalets have been told that they must all pay an additional 25 per cent council tax each year, reports the Cambrian News.

Mr Scarrott send it sends out the message to holidaymakers that they are not welcome and he argued that Clarach Bay’s chalets are not classed as second homes – and their owners already pay full council tax without receiving full council services.

However, Ceredigion County Council said: “Though the feedback was generally mixed, a majority of people strongly agreed with the introduction of the premium and believed that the introduction of the premium would have a beneficial effect on the local economy. Due democratic process was therefore rigidly adhered to.”

Top marks for Sand le Mere Holiday Village

A Yorkshire coast holiday park is celebrating after retaining its top rating by national tourism body Visit England.

Sand le Mere Holiday Village, near Tunstall, received a five-star rating – the highest holiday parks can score with the National Tourist Agency, which assesses resorts across a range of testing criteria.

Sand le Mere was commended for the overall quality of the site, the standard of its caravan accommodation and pitches for touring caravans. It recently benefited from an £8m investment in its infrastructure and landscaping.

The site has also maintained its gold standard from the David Bellamy Conservation Awards.

Amby Tatla, general manager at Sand-le-Mere, told the Hull Daily Mail: “We are delighted to be recognised with top honours from these two prestigious awards.

“Since 2012 we have invested millions in turning Sand le Mere into one of the best holiday parks on the Yorkshire coast and these awards are evidence of our impeccable standards and environmental efforts.

“We’re not going to rest on laurels. We’ll continue to extend the nature trail over the winter period to add new elements that focus on birds, deer and Tunstall beach.

“The credit for this success must go to our team who work so hard to ensure Sand le Mere is kept at the top of its game all season long.”