Budget holiday firm Pontins has announced to a ban on children at one of its popular seaside sites.
The company have revealed that a second destination will become an adult-only resort, and will no longer accept bookings from families with kids.
The move comes as a blow to families and furious holidaymakers have now launched a petition urging park bosses to reconsider the decision.
This season, The Pakefield resort at Lowestoft in Suffolk will now be off limit for those holidaying with children, ending over 70 years of being a family-centric destination.
On the official Pontins website, the firm revealed the Pakefield site was "exclusively adult only" for 2020.
The company has six sites across the UK. Sandy Bay Holiday Village in Kewstoke, Somerset, is also an adult-only destination.
The move has been met with criticism from holidaymakers around the country, leading to the online petition being set up.
Paul Daley, 50, of Ipswich, has started the Pontins Pakefield Against Families petition calling for the move to be reversed.
His wife Mary, 48, said: “It’s reasonably priced, there was great entertainment and some really good facilities for children. It was just a nice place to go on holiday... I don’t see why they’ve banned children it’s a shame.”
The ban was introduced at the start of the year at Pakefield, in Lowestoft, Suffolk, and opened in 1958. The Pontins website says the children’s playground area is currently being altered to cater for older guests.
It reads: “We are all excited for the coming year as we transition into an adult-only park.”
The petition, aimed at having the child ban lifted, has been signed by over 100 people since it was set up earlier this month. Many have expressed their disappointment at the move.
One objector said: "This is a great holiday destination and should be open to all! Without all the support of families over the years where would they be now?"
Another said: "I think it is wrong they have decided to ditch the kids in favor of only adult breaks. Pontins is a family resort too. Fred Pontins didn't intend to have holiday parks that excluded children, but was inclusive to all."
Peter Byatt, East Suffolk county councillor, said: “It is a shame because we should be encouraging children and families to come here and enjoy the old-fashioned seaside holiday.”
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