Freshwater Beach Holiday Park confirms closure for season

Storm Ciarán wreaked havoc on Freshwater Beach Holiday Park in Burton Bradstock yesterday (Thursday, November 2), causing destruction to some of the static caravans and flooding the grounds.

A spokesperson for the holiday park said: “Freshwater Beach Holiday Park has suffered property damage, but all our guests, owners and staff are thankfully safe, well and accounted for.

“We have also accounted for all our and our owner’s beachfront caravans and are in the process of making these safe.

“The park is now closed for the season with immediate effect, and we will advise via our social media channels when the Jurrassic Fun Centre can reopen.”

The closure includes all the pools as well as the Jurrassic Fun Centre, however these will be re-opened when possible.

Police, fire, coastguard, and ambulance crews were all at the scene of Freshwater Beach yesterday to check on the welfare of all residents and evacuate where necessary.

It is now understood that the whole park has been evacuated with the last residents in the process of leaving.

The beach area has also been shut off.

Around five of the static homes had been badly damaged by the storm with debris everywhere.

Fire crews were seen with poles going around the site and knocking on doors to check that everyone was okay.

Julie Lewins, one of the residents said: “Luckily our static caravan is elevated and at the back of the site. We did get wet with a surge this morning near where the vans got damaged around half an hour later,

"My wellies needed emptying, and I just hope no one is injured. There were plenty of stranded cars stuck by vans where the surges have come through the site."

The significant flooding in the area was caused after the sea breached defences as a result of the conditions brought by storm Ciarán.

The park's Ready 2 Rock music festival, which was set to run from Friday until Sunday, has also been cancelled.