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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.
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
Powys County Times
06-05-2025
- Powys County Times
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.
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.
