A FOREST business has been devastated by the storms and floods of February, resulting in millions of pounds worth of damage to clean up.

It could take years for Sterrett’s Caravan Park to get back on its’ feet as all the 85 privately-owned vehicles on the site have had to be written off.

And while park co-owner Mr Larry Sterrett admits they are ‘dead’ for this year’s summer season, he defiantly said they would bounce back although it will probably take years.

Water was higher than ever before at the Park, at Symonds Yat, and, despite caravans being uplifted on stilts from previous floods, the brown, dirty water got into them.

Last week, loss adjusters and insurers met with Mr Sterrett and others to start the process of piecing the business back together.

The Park has been in Mr Sterrett’s family since before the Second World War, with Larry in the business since 1982.

It is also part-owned by the Rolinson family who own the Saracens Head nearby.

The Park has been flooded before in 1989 and 2002 but Storm Dennis’ rage was the worst ever experienced there.

Mr Sterrett, who is 81, said: “The flooding has got worse each time. In 1989, we had 60-odd new caravans coming onto the site which were lifted up a little bit to suit the insurance company.

“And in 2002, there was probably another eight inches of water of which half the caravans got flooded.

‘‘To suit the insurance company, we lifted the vans up six inches above that level.

“But this flood now was two feet more again. It was unbelievable. We had five feet (of water) in the office and that is why they are all written off.

“You are talking about several million pounds worth. At the moment, we are just dead. We don’t have a business.

“We are looking at complete new bases on every pitch to be able to fit a flotation device which some parks have got so we can get re-insured.

“There is a long way to go and a lot of money for us to fork out to get it all done.”

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