Northamptonshire holiday park owner U-turns and confirms residents 'unable to return to permanent homes' can stay for whole of 2021

A holiday park in Northamptonshire has finally confirmed it is working towards obtaining the relevant agreements to allow residents to stay put during the usual ‘winter close’ period.

Overstone Lakes, in Ecton Lane, Overstone was scheduled to close between January 15 and March 15, 2021 as residents are obliged to have a permanent residence, which is not the holiday park.

Residents had been growing more and more concerned during the last few months as they feared they would not be able to travel to their other residences, many of which are abroad.

On November 20, after residents contacted Allens Caravans - the owners of the park - a letter was sent from directors, seen by Chronicle & Echo, confirmed the company 'will not be able to allow any holiday home owners to remain on the park during the 2021 closed period’.

A number of reasons were listed including the main residence agreement and maintenance work.

Many holiday home owners felt that this stance was unfair, particularly as nearby Billing Aquadrome made the decision last week to remain open due to the exceptional circumstances of the pandemic.

Daventry MP Chris Heaton-Harris spoke to the company on behalf of worried holiday home owners who had contacted him, but directors still sent a further letter, seen by Chronicle & Echo, to residents on Friday (November 27), which said: “No matter what restrictions are in place the park will close on January 15.”

Now, after a ‘weekend of meetings’, directors have U-turned and have finally given residents the reassurance they have been seeking for months.

As long as the relevant local authority and landlord agreements are found, holiday home owners will be allowed to stay put for the two-month closure, for a cost which is likely to be the usual monthly pitch fees.

In a letter sent to residents yesterday (November 30), the directors said: “Further to ongoing communication with customers, the board of directors for Allens Caravans Estates have held meetings over the weekend discussing the 2021 close period for Overstone Lakes Holiday Park, with the effect of Covid-19 on holiday home owners being able to return to their permanent homes in the UK or abroad, as they would usually do in the normal winter close period.

“In light of challenges faced by some customers, it has been decided that a one-off Covid-19 agreement will be offered to those customers unable to return to their permanent homes either in the UK or abroad.

“Under the terms of this agreement, they will be permitted to remain on park during this winter close period only (January 15 – March 15, 2021).

“All park facilities will remain closed and there will be a cost incurred for remaining on park, this will likely be in line with the usual monthly pitch fees.

“We still need to seek agreement from the local authorities and our landlord to allow this to occur.

“Assuming agreement is found, we will write to everyone again in a couple of weeks’ time with further details.”

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