East park Leisure Ltd Trunch Lane, , Lincs PE24 5UA

07960152939

09/02/2021

The Planning Inspectorate, Room 3/J, Kite Wing, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol B1 6PN

Via email: [email protected]

Dear Ms Palmer,

Case Ref.Nos. APP/D2510/V/20/3262525, 3262551 & 3262549

In respect of the above Planning Inquiries, we wish to support the above applications, as the owners/operators of Eastview Caravan Park, located at Trunch Lane, chapel St Leonards, PE24 5UA. We have owned/operated the business for 12 years.

The caravan park sector contributes greatly to the economy, and the benefits that would arise from parks being able to operate with extended seasons are many:

 the coast only has one “industry”, leisure and tourism and we need to become more competitive with other areas of the UK and Europe  areas with annual winter rainwater flooding, e.g. Lake District, Wales have year-round tourism. Our customers also want longer seasons  caravan parks form by far the largest sector of the leisure and tourism industry in East Lindsey and our customers support many local businesses and trades  the holiday industry has been decimated by Covid-19, with Parks shut from March 24th – July 4th and again from November 4th for those allowed to open until January 5th. We have no idea when we will be allowed to re-open in 2021, causing significant stress and uncertainty for site owners and customers  longer seasons will generate significant additional income locally and drastically reduce winter seasonal unemployment  the only recorded on the coast occurred nearly 70 years ago. In 1953, there were no permanent, hard defences. Now there are significant defences  any application to extend the season should be accompanied by a Flood Risk Assessment and Flood Evacuation Plan, we want our customers to return, not drown.

If the applications are approved, East Lindsey District Council can formally adopt the proposed Local Development Order (LDO) and extend park seasons to at least cover the 1st March – 5th January period. This will provide exactly the sort of “Bounce Back” economic activity that HM Government wishes to encourage.

The GB Tourist 2019 Report, pre-Covid, assessed the holiday tourism industry in as generating £11 billion, with £6.3 billion spent on accommodation and travel and a massive £4.7 billion on shopping, food and drink and entertainment. The UK tourism industry accounts for almost 10% of the UK’s total GDP and over 11% of all jobs in the UK. It is therefore a highly significant “economic player” nationally.

The UK Caravan & Camping Alliance’s ‘Pitching the Value’ report highlighted “planning issues, reducing the ability to expand to align to growth in visitor numbers” and “restrictive legislation” as key issues in holding back the caravan and camping sector’s ability to develop and grow.

As the UK emerges from current Covid restrictions, people will want to holiday more and for longer and those areas of the UK with longer holiday seasons will benefit significantly over those areas with restricted seasons. Most park businesses operate at full capacity in July and August and over Bank Holidays. Therefore, the greatest opportunity for growth is in the “shoulder months” of March – June and November – January, especially Christmas and New Year periods.

Most modern/new holiday caravans come with double glazing, insulation packs, central heating, lagged pipes etc. They are easily capable of accommodating tourists year-round in comfort, as are glamping pods, camping pods, yurts etc.

Many park businesses employ local staff and buy local wherever possible. Many also support their local communities through hosting charity events and sponsorship

We therefore wish to support East Lindsey District Council and the three applicants in the forthcoming planning inquiry in applying to allow season lengths on caravan parks to be extended to include a minimum 1st March – 5th January period, if backed by suitable Flood Risk Assessments and Flood Evacuation Plans.

Yours sincerely

Natalie Spalding

Caravan Park and Sales Manager Eastview Caravan Park