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UK seaside city vacation park purchased in £20m takeover nonetheless lies deserted

Locals are pushing for clarification from the positioning’s proprietor, Britannia Lodge Group, which purchased it in 2011.

Former Pontins vacation park in Prestatyn (Picture: Owen Hughes, North Wales Dwell)

Lack of funding over years has left a as soon as beloved household park in a deteriorating state, with locals enjoying a ready sport over the way forward for the leisure vacation spot. Pontins web site close to Prestatyn, Wales, was first opened in 1971, designed to carry 3,500 holidaymakers. It was a preferred vacationer spot till curtains have been closed on the vacation spot in 2023. The place music and laughter as soon as crammed the air, Liverpool ECHO experiences, a vacation park now lies eerily silent, with solely the squawking of seagulls breaking the stillness.

Throughout its peak period, the park boasted swimming swimming pools, a devoted kids’s play space, and vibrant leisure. Following its entry into administration, Pontins was purchased by the Britannia Lodge Group on January 28, 2011. The acquisition of the vacation park operator was for an estimated £20million.

The model mentioned its success had been partly to “undertake uncared for properties and make the mandatory funding to revive them to their former glory”. They promised the identical for the 5 Pontins websites they took over – together with at Prestatyn. However over years, complaints in regards to the lack of investments mounted as Britannia did not ship on its promise. However after its sudden closure in 2023, blocks of self catering chalets sit dormant, providing a sight of an deserted village on the sting of a seaside city. Followers have been left gutted and Britannia gave little clarification.

Over time because the closure, there have been complaints over the situation of the grounds. Whereas the positioning is presently moderately nicely saved, the sands of time are resulting in the gradual deterioration of the vacation properties.

Former Pontins vacation park in Prestatyn (Picture: NorthWalesLive)

Becky Gittins, Member of Parliament for Clwyd East, met bosses at Britannia final autumn to ask what was subsequent for the positioning. She mentioned that there are discussions with one other firm concerning the redevelopment, with proposals for a big funding to reopen the positioning as a household park.There have been no discussions with the Residence Workplace about utilizing the positioning to accommodate asylum seekers. Britannia reiterated that the only objective of the long run improvement of the positioning will likely be for a household vacation park.

However since then, it has gone quiet once more, and the MP hopes to fulfill with the corporate this month.

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Gittins mentioned: “Alongside the individuals of Prestatyn, I need to see the previous Pontins web site redeveloped and reopened as quickly as doable.

“Britannia have assured me all through that the only objective of the long run improvement will likely be for a household vacation park. I proceed to press for a swift and constructive decision.”

Following the closure of a number of websites in late 2023 and early 2024, solely two Pontins vacation parks stay open for friends: Pakefield in Suffolk and Sand Bay in Somerset.

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