The former owners of Watchet’s Helwell Bay caravan site said this week they were shocked and disappointed that the company which bought their business had not informed all the customers who had bookings that the site had been closed.

As reported in last week’s Free Press, visitors with bookings have been arriving at the park only to find the site shut and the gates locked.

The situation came to light when John Richards, chairman of WACET – Watchet’s chamber of trade – told the press about a dispute over the matter between him and the new owners.

This week, the former owners said they were as hurt as anyone that some holidaymakers appeared not to have received information about the site closure.

“We sold the park to the new owners on April 15 on the basis that it was a going concern and that the new owners would honour the bookings for at least the first season,” they said.

“The park was totally up and running, with guests holidaying in many of the caravans.

“We did everything we could to ensure a smooth handover. We gave the new owners all our records and contact details we had bookings for – it was a very efficient system.

“Many of these were return visitors – over 70 per cent. Some were third generation, visiting Helwell Bay for 60 years.

“Money from any deposits we had was passed on to the new owners and the site was up and running as a going concern, as stated in the terms of the contract of sale.

“We gave the people they sent down for the handover a guided tour and details of all the workings of the site.

“They left within a couple of hours, leaving all the guests on site without emergency cover.

“The following week a workman arrived, told everyone to leave, turned off the water and electric, and put a lock and chain on the gates.

“It was a shock when the site was suddenly closed, but it is now up to the new owners what they do with it.”

The former owners, who had run the site for 16 years, said: “We were very sad selling up. It had been our lives for those 16 years.

“We had presumed they would continue the business and even left flowers and a card wishing them well.”

They said claims about the number of people turned away were exaggerated and unsubstantiated, and they were extremely sad to see the site now looking so neglected after all the hard work they had put into it.

“We wish Mr Richards had come to us – WACET members for 16 years – and we could have explained the situation before going to the papers,” they added. “That way potentially a lot of distress could have been avoided.”