Tesco to close holiday park site

The park is the only holiday camp in the resort

A Devon holiday park is to close as a result of a supermarket chain buying the site.

Lyme Bay Holiday Village in Seaton will continue as normal throughout 2008, but will close its doors in January 2009.

The park said it was in a consultation process with its 140 staff after they were told the news last week.

Tesco, which has bought the site and is to be involved in a regeneration project in the area, said it would be bringing benefits and jobs to the town.

Community facilities

The park, which is the only holiday camp in the resort, has been in the town since the 1930s and can cater for up to 500 people a week.

As well as bed spaces, the holiday park provides community facilities used by local people including a gym, swimming pool and a nursery.

About half of the staff who work at the camp also live on the site.

The supermarket chain bought the land last December, tied into a regeneration project involving a supermarket, shops and possible housing or holiday accommodation.

Local businesses, park staff and holidaymakers said they were concerned how the closure would affect the resort.

Businesses are concerned how the camp's closure will affect them

Newsagent Marcus Hartnell said: "With 400 or 500 people in the camp each week, they spend a considerable amount of money with us, and we will be concerned in the winter months when they give us quite a boost."

In a statement, Tesco said the site formed part of the East Devon District Council regeneration plan for Seaton.

It said: "It will bring significant and lasting benefits to the town and its residents, including new employment opportunities, with 250 or more new jobs being created by the new store alone, attractive shopping facilities, and affordable housing."

It added that it could include possible tourist accommodation developments, and that a wider consultation with the public was to be carried out.

East Devon District Council said it wanted to work closely with all its partners, both in the commercial sector and in all levels of government, to achieve its regeneration package, which would transform the town into a 21st Century shopping centre and holiday resort for the nearby Jurassic Coast.