THE operators of a Borders holiday park are seeking permission for it to remain open all year long.

Verdant Leisure want to vary previous consents from Scottish Borders Council to allow the Pease Bay Leisure Park in Cockburnspath to open 12 months of the year, instead of the existing March to January only.

Pease Bay is located to the east of Cockburnspath and contains 330 pitches, which are a mixture of privately owned caravans/lodges (300) and short-term lets (23).

The applicant said the change would “support the economic sustainability of the park and nearby local businesses in the area which are reliant on the leisure and tourism industry”.

In the past local authorities have resisted allowing holiday parks to remain open 12 months of the year due to concerns that the holiday homes could be used as permanent residences.

However, Verdant Leisure said that approach was no longer “practical or reasonable”.

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The latest bid comes amid a growth in 'staycationers' choosing to holiday in the UK.

A supporting letter with the application said: “The adopted Local Development Plan is supportive of growing the tourism and leisure business in Scotland as it provides economic benefits to Cockburnspath village and the wider area.

“The opening of the park for an additional month will create a minimal impact on the local area in terms of traffic generation and pressure on local amenities and infrastructure.”

The applicant also points out that the Coldingham Bay Bay Leisure Park, also within the Borders, already has the flexibility to open all year long.

It added: “The closure of holiday parks for one month of the year simply to restrict the caravans being used as sole residences is no longer practicable and reasonable, and the local authority’s concerns over the potential for permanent occupation of holiday lodges is already addressed through site licensing and if necessary can be conditioned.”