4 days ago
Waterworld park, where four-year-old drowned, sold to new owners
A water park in Staffordshire where a four-year-old girl died earlier this month has been sold in a multimillion-pound attraction in Festival Park, Stoke-on-Trent, has been sold by entrepreneur Mo Chaudry to the European leisure giant, Looping Group, which operates 21 leisure parks across Europe, including West Midlands Safari Park and Drayton Manor to Companies House, Mo Chaudry stepped down as director of Waterworld on 31 July, four days before the death of the four-year-old girl.A multi-agency investigation is under way into the circumstances surrounding her death.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council confirmed its environmental health team was working with the police and venue to "undertake a full health and safety investigation".
'Handing over the baton'
While the value of the deal has not been disclosed, Mr Chaudry's family investment company now has a net worth of more than £170m in the wake of the Chaudry, the chairman of M Investment Group, said: "Waterworld has been a huge part of my life and business journey and I am proud of everything we have achieved as a team."I am now handing over the baton to Looping, a world-class operator with the vision and expertise to take Waterworld even further, ensuring the resort has an exciting future."The entrepreneur said the Looping Group had "made a clear commitment to investing in the park and supporting the local community", claiming that staff jobs were secure and visitors could expect "even more exciting developments ahead".Waterworld has seen millions of visitors since opening in 1989.
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