Latest news with #Pontins
BBC News
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Pontins holiday park stories from Hemsby to be told in podcast
A not-for-profit podcast company has appealed for volunteers to help tell the story of a popular holiday based in Norwich, wants to share memories of the former Pontins holiday park in Hemsby on the Norfolk project, called The Holiday Makers, was awarded a £23,700 grant from Historic England in February. Sophie Little, one of the founders at Soundyard, said the closed-down park was a "huge part of the village for many, many years". "It's all about working class history," she explained."We wanted to look at how Hemsby has changed as a result of Pontins closing, but also gathering stories of people who have worked in the holiday industry there."She said the team was looking for people who wanted to learn how to make a documentary and conduct interviews."The exciting part of this project with the volunteers is that it's their job to direct it," she added. Ms Little said Historic England had a grant designed for research about rural towns and coastal villages, which led to their Hemsby its height, Pontins had 30 destinations across now only has two: Sand Bay Holiday Village in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, and Pakefield Holiday Village in Lowestoft, Suffolk. Pontins in Hemsby closed in 2009 and its derelict buildings suffered an arson attack in 2018. Soundyard was set up in 2023 by former BBC producers Ms Little and Anna Perrott said the team hoped to teach people how to tell their own stories using software and by loaning hope to release the documentary by interested in taking part in the project, as either a volunteer making it or to share their memories, was asked to email hemsbyproject@ Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Metro
09-05-2025
- Metro
School evacuated after receiving 'bomb threat'
A school was evacuated after a 'malicious' call claimed there was a bomb hidden somewhere on site. The call, from an unknown person, was made to Frome Community Collegein Frome, Somerset at around 8.30am yesterday. Avon and Somerset Police were called and the school was evacuated. Nothing suspicious was found and the call was deemed to be malicious by police. More Trending Pupils were told it was a gas leak at the time, it added. The college posted on its Facebook page yesterday: 'This morning we received a hoax call which necessitated a visit from the police onto College site to ensure everyone's safety. 'We extended tutor time whilst the police checked our site, and we have now returned to our normal timetable. The matter is now being handled by the appropriate authorities.' More to follow. Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ Or you can submit your videos and pictures here. For more stories like this, check our news page. Follow on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. You can now also get articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here. MORE: Man who strangled girlfriend on night she planned to leave him jailed for 35 years MORE: Good Samaritan rescues Jack Russell after it gets stuck 16ft up a tree MORE: Pontins charged after gran died when bingo hall ceiling collapsed
The Sun
07-05-2025
- The Sun
Once-bustling Pontins seaside holiday park loved by families left abandoned & frozen in time after suddenly closing down
A ONCE-bustling Pontins park has become an eerie ghost town after closing down two years ago. The site has stood abandoned and unused ever since, becoming a desolate theme park that's like stepping back in time. 4 4 4 Pontins Holiday Park in Southport was closed suddenly, with holiday apartments being completely abandoned by the super-chain. Furnishings and decorations have been left completely intact, creating an almost post-apocalyptic feeling. Outdoor play areas have been unused for years, with timber swings, picnic tables and slides standing silent on the site. Thrill-seeking adventurer and urban explorer Matt first discovered the scene, before sharing it with fans on his social media page Exploring with Matt. Opening up about his daring career, Matt said: "I find places to go by looking at online websites dedicated to abandoned buildings and there is a huge online urban explorers community. 'For me, I am just so interested in buildings with a lot of history, such as old theatres, hospitals or abandoned colleges or high schools. 'They are like time capsules. 'It is so fascinating to me." Upon seeing the chilling video, fans began sharing their experiences at the Pontins Holiday Park. One commented: "It's a shame it's closed and looks really tidy and clean! I stayed at 'nightmare' Pontins hotel with ant nests and broken lights - I made a quick escape "This place has probably made so many memories over the years with children making friends and people meeting their life long partners!" Another blamed the Cost of Living crisis - which began under the previous Tory government - on the closure. Rental and maintenance costs have skyrocketed in recent years, thanks to factors including Liz Truss' mini-budget, COVID, Brexit and Trump's tariffs. Many companies, like Pontin's, were forced to close some of their facilities just to stay afloat. At the time of the Southport closure, Pontins said: "It is with great sadness that we announce the closure of Pontins Southport Holiday Park. "After assessing the future viability of the park, we have come to the difficult decision to close our doors. "Unfortunately, this means that Pontins Southport Holiday Park will be closing from Wednesday 3rd January 2024. "We apologise for any inconvenience caused." The company also closed its Pontins Prestatyn and Pontins Camber Sands parks in a bid to cut costs. 4
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
STV News
06-05-2025
- STV News
Pontins parent company accused of corporate manslaughter
The parent company of Pontins holiday parks has appeared in court charged with corporate manslaughter after part of a ceiling at a resort collapsed on guests six years ago. Eighteen people were injured at the Brean Sands site 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 following the incident. 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. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
