Herefordshire park boss wants clarity on summer holidays

Glenn Jones from Discover Parks, which has three sites in the county, said it's frustrating when different government ministers say different things.

Last month Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he'd booked his summer holiday to Cornwall, but then last week Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said people should not plan a break just yet due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

It means people have put off booking, Mr Jones said.

"It's very frustrating, the messages coming forward are confusing and unclear, they seem to change in an instant, there is no consistency and nothing for the average person to look forward to," he said.

"They're worried they will commit themselves to a well deserved break and then find they'll be prevented from coming", says Glenn.

"The message from us is clear, book now to guarantee a space, if the travel restrictions aren't lifted, have your money back or roll your booking on.

"Whilst we appreciate these are unprecedented times there has to be some positive moves made in order to lift public moral."

Health Secretary Matt Hancock during a Downing Street press conference

Mr Hancock said the rollout of coronavirus vaccines is "absolutely essential" for summer holidays to take place, and he has urged people to be "patient" over the prospect of getting away.

"I know that people are yearning for certainty over whether they can have a summer holiday, but pandemics are difficult times and there is a lot of uncertainty, so I am afraid that people will have to be patient before we can get that certainty," he told BBC Breakfast.

"We are doing everything that we possibly can to make sure that people can have a holiday this summer but the vaccine rollout is absolutely essential to that.

"We will set out more in more detail when we can, but at the moment unfortunately there is that uncertainty still."