ADVENTURE Island bosses have insisted they should be able to open from April 5 in order to capitalise on the last week of the Easter holidays.

After an extended period of almost no business due to multiple lockdowns, Philip Miller MBE insisted there is little point in re-opening on April 12 as children will be back in the classroom.

Instead, Adventure Island will remain close until Saturday, April 17th.

The call for an earlier easing of lockdown comes after business bosses revealed they have packed diaries and are hoping for a bumper summer.

Mr Miller, owner of Adventure Island, said: “We are opening Adventure Island on Saturday April 17. Although we have written to our MP James Duddridge to see if he might persuade his friend Boris to show some mercy and bring the date forward to the April 5.

“At least then we would be able to get the last week of the school holidays in.

“Sealife Adventure should be open on April 12 and with only the outside areas open temporarily until May 17 when we can fully reopen.

“We will charge a fiver which will go towards feeding the animals, they have been on a lockdown diet for a year.”

Adventure Island hasn’t opened since the start of November.

Marc Miller, managing director at Adventure Island said there’s lots of work on going to keep all the visitors safe.

He said: “We are not opening on April 12 as we would not have the full two weeks and it wouldn’t make any sense, but if we can open earlier it will be better for us.

“We’ve got in place all the safety measures that we had before including sanitising stations at lots of points in the park and marshals at all the entrances to ensure people know the rules.

“We are ensuring all touch points are sanitised regularly and we are taking it all very seriously.”

BOSSES at Southend’s Adventure Island are preparing for a bumper re-opening but insist it must earlier to take advantage of the full two week Easter holiday trade.

The top seaside attraction is preparing to welcome back visitors from April 17 but the owners says opening earlier would boost their business.

The attraction bosses calls for earlier opening plans come after other business owners are expected a bumper trade after seeing bookings for outdoor eating and drinking rocket.

They spoke as hopes mounted for a bumper summer’s trade from April 12 – the date set by the Prime Minister for people can meet socially outside.

Philip Miller MBE owner of Adventure Island said: “We are opening Adventure Island on Saturday April 17. “Although we have written to our MP James Duddridge to see if he might persuade his friend Boris to show some mercy and bring the date forward to the April 5.

“At least then we would be able to get the last week of the school holidays in.

“Sealife Adventure should be open on April 12 and with only the outside areas open temporarily until May 17 when we can fully reopen.

“We will charge a fiver which will go towards feeding the animals, they have been on a lockdown diet for a year.”