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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Laura Sharman

Center Parcs U-turn on decision to kick guests out on day of Queen's funeral

Center Parcs have now U-turned on plans to cancel holidays for the Queen's funeral after furious backlash.

The company said it had "reviewed our position regarding the very small number of guests who are not due to depart on Monday and we will be allowing them to stay on our villages rather than having to leave and return on Tuesday."

Holidaymakers had expressed anger after they were originally told to leave their accommodation for 24 hours on Monday, in honour of the monarch.

In an earlier announcement on Tuesday, Center Parcs said it would close all its sites for the day on September 19, meaning many guests would have had to leave half way through their holiday.

Families would have been forced to leave the site by 10am on Monday and make alternative plans until the following afternoon.

Center Parcs in Longleat (Publicity Picture)

"Following the announcement of the date of the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, we have made the decision to close all our UK villages on Monday, September 19, at 10am as a mark of respect and to allow as many of our colleagues as possible to be part of this historic moment, a spokesperson said on Twitter.

"Guests who were due to arrive on Monday, September 19, should not travel, we will reopen on Tuesday 20 September to welcome guests.

"All impacted guests will receive an email from us today."

The popular holiday park faced backlash from guests when it announced a 24-hour closure (Press Association Images)

Center Parcs, owned by Brookfield Properties, soon backtracked after emailing all customers who were to be affected by its initial plans and sending them into uproar.

Many guests on social media said it had only caused them extra stress at a time of national mourning.

The group then announced that while it would not accept new arrivals on Monday when its facilities would close, those already on site who had booked for the week would be allowed to remain at their lodgings.

Customers on social media said it had only caused them further stress (Press Association Images)

Complaints had flooded in on social media after the company said it would close its gates on Monday to allow staff "to support our Queen on her final journey".

One person tweeted: "Very angry about this.

"We are not travelling directly to you, so this has left us stranded half way up the country without accommodation for a night.

"Thirty per cent offered is nowhere near close enough to covering the extra costs."

Guests would have been forced to leave the site by 10am on Monday under the original plans (Center Parcs)

Another person commented: "It's a breach of contract... This is going to cost Center Parcs a fortune."

A third suggested: "Just close the facilities for the duration of the funeral and reopen afterwards.

"Let people watch it in the bar areas if they want to. Just strange to close the whole site."

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