Latest news with #BreanSands
BBC News
03-08-2025
- BBC News
West of England headlines: 'Tribute tower' and 'dogs welcome'
Here's our weekly roundup of stories from across local websites in the West of have a daily round up as well. Make sure you look out for it on the website and the local section of the BBC News app. What have been the big stories in the West this week? The parent company of Pontins holiday parks pleaded not guilty to corporate manslaughter during a court hearing earlier this week. Wendy Jones, 68, died six months after part of a ceiling collapsed at the resort in Brean Sands in February Independent Office for Police Conduct released a report with more details about Tamzin Hall, who died on her way to police custody. The report said she had removed her handcuffs and climbed in to the front passenger seat of the police car before escaping the Keir Starmer visited staff from small businesses in Swindon on Thursday. The prime minister unveiled plans to give the employees more access to finance, after many said they were struggling to secure had been under way all week ready for the Taunton Flower Show which returned on Friday. It was the 194th edition of the event which is dubbed "The Chelsea of the West".And The Grand Pier in Weston-super-Mare has allowed dogs on site, following a month-long trial held in June. Top five local stories for the BBC in the West Something longer to read A group of scaffolders from Bristol climbed Pen y Fan in Wales to erect a scaffolding tower in honour of their co-worker who was diagnosed with terminal cancer earlier this year. They have raised more than £20,000 for their efforts building the 26.2ft (8m) tower. Explore more with our daily roundups
BBC News
30-07-2025
- BBC News
Pontins deny corporate manslaughter after roof collapse
The owner of Pontins holiday parks has pleaded not guilty to corporate manslaughter after an air conditioning duct collapsed onto Wendy Jones, 68, died in August 2019 after spending six months in hospital following the incident at the Brean Sands resort in was one of 18 people injured when a 40-metre (131 ft) section of structural ducting and ceiling fell inside The Fun Factory entertainment centre in February parent company, Britannia Jinky Jersey, denied the charge during a hearing at Bristol Crown Court earlier. This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X to get the latest alerts.
BBC News
06-05-2025
- BBC News
Brean Sands Pontins in court over corporate manslaughter charge
Pontins in court over corporate manslaughter charge 6 minutes ago Share Save Share Save BBC Eighteen people were injured when part of the roof collapsed at The Fun Factory Two people have appeared in court for the first time in connection with the collapse of a roof at Pontins. Grandmother Wendy Jones, 68, died in hospital in August 2019, where she had spent the final six months of her life after the ceiling collapse at the Brean Sands site in Somerset. She was one of 18 people injured when a 40-metre section of structural ducting and ceiling fell inside The Fun Factory entertainment centre in February 2019. Pontins' parent company, Britannia Jinky Jersey Ltd, has been charged with corporate manslaughter, while a former contractor has been charged under the health and safety at work act. Family handout Mrs Jones spent the final six months of her life in hospital after the incident The charge alleges that Britannia Jinky Jersey Ltd "managed and organised its activities in such a way so as to cause the death of Wendy Jones", adding that Mrs Jones was "exposed" to the "risk of death" from the collapse of ventilation ducting. This risk, the charge states, was in "gross breach" of the company's duty to take "reasonable care for the safety" of Mrs Jones. Stephen Bennison, 59, of Farington, Lancashire, was also charged with failing to discharge a duty of health and safety to the public. The charge alleges that as a self-employed worker, Mr Bennison failed to "ensure so far as reasonably practical that members of the public - including Mrs Jones - were not exposed to health and safety risks. Both defendants appeared at Bristol Magistrates' Court on Tuesday morning, with neither party entering a plea. District Judge Lynne Matthews sent the case to Bristol Crown Court for trial, where they will next appear on June 9, with Mr Bennison granted unconditional bail. The charges levelled at both defendants cover the time period between 1 January 2015 and 21 February 2019. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service confirmed at the time of the incident it had been called to reports of a section of ducting collapsing into the bar area of a building at the holiday park. Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. More on this story Pontins owner charged with corporate manslaughter
Sky News
06-05-2025
- Sky News
Pontins owner in court over death of grandmother after ceiling collapse
The parent company of Pontins has appeared in court after being charged with corporate manslaughter. Eighteen people were injured at the holiday park firm's Brean Sands site in Somerset in February 2019 when a 40-metre section of structural ducting and ceiling fell inside an entertainment area. Wendy Jones, a 68-year-old grandmother, was among six people taken to hospital at the time. She died the following August. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said the fallen ceiling sections exposed live damaged electrics. The parent company, Britannia Jinky Jersey Ltd, is accused of corporate manslaughter between 1 January 2015 and 21 February 2019, and was charged last month. The charge alleges the company was in "gross breach of its duty to take reasonable care for the safety of Wendy Jones". It also alleges the company "exposed Wendy Jones to the risk of death from the collapse of the ventilation ducting". Stephen Bennison, 59, from Farington in Lancashire, has been charged with failing to discharge general health/safety duty to a person other than an employee. That refers to section three of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. It is alleged that as a self-employed contractor he "failed to conduct his undertaking" to ensure that "members of the public, including Wendy Jones, were not exposed to risks to their health and safety, namely the risk posed by overloaded ductwork in the Fun Factory". Both defendants appeared at Bristol Magistrates' Court. District Judge Lynne Matthews sent the case to Bristol Crown Court for trial, where lawyers for the parties will next appear on Friday.
The Independent
06-05-2025
- The Independent
Pontins in court over death of grandmother at resort
The parent company of Pontins holiday parks has appeared in court in connection with a grandmother's death. Eighteen people were injured at the Brean Sands site near Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset in February 2019 when a 40-metre section of structural ducting and ceiling fell inside an entertainment area. Grandmother Wendy Jones, 68, was among six people taken to hospital after she sustained serious injuries. She died in August 2019. Pontins' parent company, Britannia Jinky Jersey Ltd, has been accused of corporate manslaughter between January 1, 2015 and February 21, 2019. The charge alleges the company 'managed and organised its activities in such a way so as to cause the death of Wendy Jones in that exposed Wendy Jones to the risk of death from the collapse of the ventilation ducting, which was positioned at height in the Fun Factory at its Brean Sands site, in gross breach of its duty to take reasonable care for the safety of Wendy Jones as an organisation carrying out activities on a commercial basis and as an occupier of premises'. Stephen Bennison, 59, of Farington, Lancashire, has been charged with failing to discharge general health/safety duty to a person other than an employee under Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 between January 1, 2015 and February 21, 2019. The charge alleges he 'being self-employed within the meaning of the Health and Safety at Work Act failed to conduct his undertaking, namely as a contractor carrying out sound-prodding work at Pontins Brean Sands in such a way as to ensure so far as reasonably practicable that persons not being his employees and who may be affected thereby, namely members of the public, including Wendy Jones, were not exposed to risks to their health and safety, namely the risk posed by overloaded ductwork in the Fun Factory'. The two defendants appeared before Bristol Magistrates' Court where District Judge Lynne Matthews sent the case to Bristol Crown Court for trial, where they will next appear on June 9. They did not enter any pleas to the respective charges they face. Bennison was released on unconditional bail. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service confirmed at the time it had been called to reports of a section of ducting collapsing into the bar area of a building at the holiday park. It said approximately 40 metres of structural ducting and ceiling sections had fallen, exposing live damaged electrics. Pontins Brean Sands is currently closed to tourists, with EDF housing workers at the holiday park as part of the Hinkley Point C project. The energy giant has a three-year-deal with Britannia, who owns Pontins, to use it for their workers until it reverts back to a holiday spot in either 2026 or 2027.
