UPDATE: On Sunday it was announced that the park would now close

Mullion Holiday Park has spoken about its decision to remain open despite authorities and MPs urging holidaymakers to stay away from Cornwall.

The complex, owned by Parkdean Resorts, is just one of a number of parks and holiday complexes that have continued to stay open amid the coronavirus outbreak - prompting upset from local people on social media.

Fears have been raised over the knock-on effect to Cornwall's only large hospital, the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro, which an influx of holidaymakers could have, along with concerns that people are ignoring government advice to avoid all but essential travel.

Steve Double, MP for St Austell and Newquay, yesterday spoke out telling people not to visit the county and make a difficult situation even worse, with Visit Cornwall, Cornwall Council, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership and Public Health issuing a joint statement asking people to defer their visit and avoid all but essential travel.

Read more: Coronavirus in Cornwall: MP's plea to holidaymakers

Read more: Visit Cornwall says holiday is "non-essential" travel

Now Mullion Holiday Park has issued a statement on the subject of "Parks that provide standalone self-catering accommodation in wide open spaces."

It said that the government’s strategy was to encourage social distancing and remove crowded areas to slow the rate of infection of COVID-19.

The statement continued that as such, "in line and within the spirit of government instruction," at the park:

• All bars, restaurants, swimming pools, leisure facilities and amenities are closed.

• All activities, sports, entertainment have ceased.

• Parks are open on skeleton provision.

• Each park is on average 42 acres with wide open spaces, located on beaches and isolated locations and provide individual space and fresh air.

• Caravans and lodges are standalone, self-catering units and set on average 4m apart.

• 70% of caravan and lodges are owned by individual families as second/holiday homes, there is no instruction or logic to evicting people who are enjoying the fresh air in their own space.

• High levels of sanitation are in place.

• Customers arrive by car rather than by public transport or plane.

The park said that in compliance with yesterday's government announcement, Parkdean Resorts had closed the bars, restaurants, other amenities and ceased all group activities and entertainment on all its holiday parks until further notice.

It continued to monitor the situation very closely and would keep customers, owners and employees informed throughout, it added.

Steve Richards, CEO of Parkdean Resorts said: “Our thoughts go to the vulnerable members of society who are suffering and the emergency services who are doing such a great job.

"It is absolutely not the government’s intention to shut down caravan parks, which by definition provide standalone self-catering accommodation and plenty of space for people to socially distance themselves and enjoy open space and fresh air. "We have complied fully with government instructions and take our responsibilities seriously for those who visit our parks."

A spokesperson also told the Packet that any suggestions the park was not allowing customers to defer their stay were untrue.

He said the customer care team were handling all requests to rebook and defer holidays currently booked up to April 27, with the Parkdean Resorts website stating on its landing page: "We appreciate there is uncertainty at the moment and we would love to welcome you on park, however should you wish to amend your stay, and have a holiday booked with us up to 27 April, you can login into My Booking and claim your holiday voucher."