Britannia Jinky Jersey, the parent company of Pontins holiday parks, is facing charges of corporate manslaughter following a tragic incident at the Pontins Brean Sands resort in Somerset. In February 2019, a section of the ceiling and air conditioning ducting inside the resort’s entertainment center collapsed, injuring eighteen people, including grandmother Wendy Jones, 68. Wendy spent the last six months of her life in the hospital before passing away on 4 August 2019. Pontins is a part of the Britannia Hotels group, which has yet to provide a statement on the matter.
Furthermore, contractor Stephen Bennison, 58, from Faringdon in Lancashire, has been charged under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 in connection to the incident. A previous BBC News report highlighted concerns raised by a former employee about the installation of insulation on top of the ceiling and ducting back in 2015. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue described the collapse as involving approximately 40m (131ft) of structural ducting and ceiling sections, which exposed damaged live electrics. Nearly 100 people were in the entertainment hall, ready to play bingo, when the collapse occurred.
The charges against the defendants are the result of a joint investigation conducted by Avon and Somerset Police and Somerset Council. Ch Supt Roger Doxsey, the senior investigating officer, expressed condolences to Wendy Jones’ family and acknowledged the complexity of the investigation. The defendants are scheduled to appear at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on 6 May to face the charges. The incident serves as a tragic reminder of the importance of upholding safety regulations and standards in public spaces to prevent such accidents from occurring in the future
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