Pontins owner denies corporate manslaughter after ceiling collapse at Somerset holiday park
Wendy Jones, 68, died in August 2019 after spending six months in hospital following the incident at the Brean Sands resort.
She was among 18 people injured when approximately 40 metres of structural ducting and ceiling collapsed into the bar area inside the entertainment centre, called The Fun Factory, in February 2019.
Britannia Jinky Jersey Ltd, the parent company of Pontins, appeared before Bristol Crown Court on Wednesday for a plea and trial preparation hearing.
Judge Julian Lambert confirmed that the company had pleaded not guilty to the two charges it faces, corporate manslaughter and failing to discharge a duty under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act.
It is alleged that, between 1 January 2015 and 5 August 2019, Britannia Jinky Jersey Ltd 'managed and organised its activities in such a way as to cause the death of Wendy Jones'.
The company is said to have 'exposed Wendy Jones to the risk of death from the collapse of ventilation ducting, which was positioned at height in the Fun Factory at Pontins Brean Sands, in gross breach of its duty to take reasonable care for the safety of Wendy Jones'.
The second charge alleges that, between 1 January 2015 and 21 February 2019, it failed to ensure that members of the public were not exposed to risks to their health and safety.
It names the risk posed as 'the installation of soundproofing materials in the Fun Factory at Pontins Brean Sands'.
Judge Lambert said a trial, expected to last up to six weeks, would take place at Bristol Crown Court on 12 October next year. He added that a pre-trial hearing would take place on a date to be fixed.
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