The owner of Pontins holiday parks has been charged with corporate manslaughter after a grandmother died and seventeen other guests were left injured when an air conditioning duct plunged into them at a resort in Somerset.
A section of the ceiling and ducting at Pontins Brean Sands, Somerset, came loose inside one of its entertainment centres, called The Fun Factory, in February 2019. Grandmother Wendy Jones, 68, spent the final six months of her life in hospital from the injuries she sustained before she tragically died on August 4, 2019. Pontins’ parent company, Britannia Jinky Jersey, will appear in court next month. Contractor Stephen Bennison, 58, from Faringdon in Lancashire, has also been charged with an offence under Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
About 100 people were in the entertainment hall about to play bingo when the collapse happened. The charges follow a joint investigation by Avon and Somerset Police and Somerset Council.
Chief superintendent Roger Doxsey, senior investigating officer, said: “First and foremost our thoughts are with the family of Wendy Jones. This has been a complex investigation and we’re grateful for the support of Somerset Council and other partners to reach this stage.” The defendants are due to appear at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on May 6.
Pontins operates a chain of holiday parks across the UK, which are known for offering a range of trips – including half-board and self-catering options and “Bluecoat” staff who provide entertainment and activities. The holiday camps were first opened in the UK in 1946 by Fred Pontin. His first camp was at Brean Sands, near Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. The company later expanded, with multiple camps opening in the 1950s, including those at Camber Sands and Southport.
The Mirror has contacted Britannia Hotels group, which acquired Pontins holiday parks in January 2011, for comment.
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