A BERROW holiday park is seeking permission to open its accommodation to tourists all year round due to an increase in demand.

Sandy Glade Holiday Park, which is operated by John Fowler Holidays, is currently approved to operate from February 11 to the January 9 in any one-year period.

But holiday park bosses are seeking permission to change the park's operational licence so it can operate from February 4 to January 2 in any one year period as demand for accommodation from tourists has increased.

In their planning statement a spokesperson for Sandy Glade Holiday Park said changing the dates of the season will have 'financial advantages' as offsite facilities and attractions will provide 'a broader spread of revenue' to the community.

The spokesperson said: "The proposed extension of the holiday period reflects the demand of the park caravan and lodge owners to use their holiday accommodation over the year period.

"This would not require an extension to the number of days the site is operational but provides the site with more desirable times of year.

"This reflects general trends within the holiday industry locally and nationally in that holiday makers are increasingly less likely to have a two week break in the middle of summer but are more likely to have several short breaks or long weekends spread throughout the year.

"Much of the demand for holidays in the South West is for self-catering accommodation and the spread of this demand over the lower period enables use of the accommodation to the extended through the year.

"The alterations to the dates of the season has financial advantages in terms of spin-off to offsite facilities and attractions providing a broader spread of revenue to the community and helping to reduce the disadvantages of seasonal employment including the difficulties of retaining trained and experienced staff.

"The extension of the tourist season is supported by national planning policies. Despite the extending of the occupancy season the accommodation will remain solely for holiday occupation."

Comments are welcome on the application until November 15.

To view the application or comment visit www.sedgemoor.gov.uk/planning and search for application number 05/19/00021.