A COVID-SAFE new arrivals system has been approved for the Seaview holiday park off Preston Road, Weymouth.

Haven, which runs the site, had asked Dorset Council for an arrivals lodge near the main entrance which will prevent the need for new arrivals to queue with other people.

The lodge, which will have a 21 square metre footprint, will allow staff to process guests without the visitors leaving their cars. It will also mean introducing timed arrival slots for holiday guests.

The company says that the new arrivals area will help it to provide a Covid-safe check in system with holidaymakers met by team members outside and then given their keys and basic information and directed to their holiday home. It hoped to have the changes in place by March but Dorset Council has only just approved the application.

Haven says the system is safer, reduces the need for people to be waiting around with others, and in trials, has been significantly more efficient than the previous system where guests arrived when it suited them, sometimes resulting in queues.

The new building will be north west of the existing entertainment complex with a canopy to provide shelter for staff while they check guests in, who will remain in their vehicles.

Haven say the area is sufficiently far down the site’s main road to avoid congestion at the entrance and they anticipate each check in will be achieved in under a minute to keep traffic flowing.

Two existing caravans will have to be removed to make way for the new system.