Essex County Council has announced its outdoor services providing residential trips to schools and groups from across the UK will not open before the end of July.

Due to the nature of the services delivered, Essex Outdoors collects around 80 per cent of the income throughout the summer season. As such the financial exposure is significant if the service is closed, even for six months, the council has said.

The council had already given the go ahead to close the centres at Bradwell, Harlow, Danbury Outdoors, Mersea and Harlow until June.

It says that with 70 per cent of its bookings for between April and June, the financial impact of closing the facilities for a three-month period is a net pressure to the 2020/21 budget of £1.6million.

Further drawdowns of £232,000 per month for the next three months if the closure extends beyond the initial three month period have been agreed.

The county council reckons it will cost the council £2.3million if the service is closed until September 2020.

Essex Outdoors learning opportunities range from activity days and forest schools through to residential experiences and adventurous expeditions.

Its four centres provide a range of activities from archery and climbing through to power boating and sailing.

However due to coronavirus the centres have closed, with recruitment of seasonal staff  suspended.

An earlier statement setting out its decision to close the centre until at least June said: “We need to help Essex residents to comply with the guidance and maintain isolation.

“Closing Essex Outdoors will mean that communities are temporarily deprived of a resource but it is a resource which at the moment could contribute to the spreading of the virus and worsening the health of Essex residents.

“There may be instances where schools who are continuing to open for vulnerable and key worker pupils or children in care request use of these facilities.

“We recommend that these are considered on a case by case basis by the executive director place and public health, liaising with the relevant directorates.

“This will ensure that Essex County Council can continue to provide this service if needed, whilst managing risks to public health. The financial implications of this have not been factored into this paper because insufficient information is available at the current time to enable the analysis to be prepared.”

A statement on the Essex Outdoors website said: “Further to previous communications, we regret to announce that we’ve now made the decision to extend the closure of the Essex Outdoor Centres until the end of July, in light of the fast-evolving Covid-19 public health threat, the government’s national guidance around gatherings and social distancing and school closures.

“We have been working closely with departments within Essex County Council in order to reach this outcome, which has been put into place with the health and wellbeing of our visitors and staff in mind.

“Please be assured that anyone who has a booking with us during this period, whether it is a school trip, residential booking or member of the public with an Easter booking or birthday party, will be contacted directly by a member of staff to arrange a refund. Please bear with us during this busy time and stay safe and well.”