STAFF who worked at Pontins’ holiday park in Prestatyn said they only found out about its permanent closure via Facebook or word of mouth.
Pontins confirmed that Prestatyn Sands Holiday Park, which opened in 1971, was closing for good immediately on the afternoon of November 30.
Neither Pontins, nor Britannia Hotels – the company which owns the park – has explained yet why it has closed.
All of the 13 ex-employees at Prestatyn Sands which the Journal spoke to said they also have not been given a reason for its closure.
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Joanne George, who had worked at the park for six years as a checker, said the news left her “disgusted” and “absolutely devastated”.
She said: “I have no idea why we closed. Staff worked hard making sure all holidaymakers had the best holiday.
“I'm absolutely devastated we've closed; I made a lot of friends that I will miss.
“I'm disgusted by the way everyone has found out. No message, email, anything; it was just all over Facebook before a lot of staff found out. Britannia Hotels should be ashamed.”
Shannon Clarke, who was an accommodation cleaner at the park for the last seven to eight years, said she also found out about its closure through Facebook.
She added: “It’s made me upset and annoyed; it was a job that worked well around my son’s school hours, and we were like one big family.
“All of the staff were close, and we put every effort into our jobs to make it a better place each day.
“Closing the site without any expectation (of it closing) has affected a lot of people, especially before Christmas.”
Angela Branchflower had worked in the park’s allocations department for the last 18 months.
She said she received an email about the park’s closure on the same day that Pontins publicly confirmed it – but several hours after she, too, had discovered the news on Facebook.
Other ex-employees said they did not receive such an email from Pontins or Britannia Hotels.
“It’s been a blast,” Angela said.
“But I’m deeply saddened with the announcement - being emailed at 10pm to be told your services are no longer required, after hearing about it on Facebook.
“The manner of the way that this has happened is so poor. There should have been a meeting with all involved, so they could have asked staff for their thoughts on how Pontins could have been made great again.”
Michelle Baines, who had worked at the park since May 2022, added: “I’m gutted at the way we have been told we've got no jobs come the new season.
“I've worked in accommodation, cleaning, and then moved onto facilities, and loved it.
“I loved meeting the holidaymakers and I got to know the staff, and made good friends who will be dearly missed.
“I can't believe nobody was told it was closing, and with no reason why.”
Carol Ainsworth, who had worked at the park for two years, added: “I found out via Facebook – I’m not sure why it's closed, but I’m feeling really sad and gutted.
“I loved my job, and have got to look for another now. This has had a big impact.
“I'm feeling so sad and angry about how this has been done - finding out on Facebook, especially not even getting an email, which they could have done, because they sent our payslips via email.”
Kevin O’Neill, the park’s refuse collector, added: “I’ve been at Pontins for nearly 16 years, but found out on Thursday night (November 30) from a friend that we were closing down – it’s very sad.
“Although I'm past retirement age, I still had a few more seasons left in me. I loved every minute of working at Pontins, through the cold, wet, windy and sweltering days.
“But most of all, I will miss all of the lovely people in our unique Pontins family; and my tractor, of course.”
Gill Arnold said: “I found out the same way as everyone else.
“I’m not sure I will ever find another job which I actually looked forward to going to. It wasn’t the poshest place by any means, but we all worked so hard to try and make it better.
“It’s not where you work that counts; it’s who you work with, and it’s been an absolute pleasure to work with some of the best colleagues I’ve ever known.”
Barney Traynor said the way in which he and his Pontins colleagues learnt that the park had closed was “disgusting”.
He said: “I worked there for 12 years and, like everyone else, found out via social media on Thursday afternoon that it had closed – it’s disgusting.”
Samantha Evans said that, after years of service at Prestatyn Sands, it was not “acceptable” to essentially discover she had been made redundant through a Facebook post.
She said: “I found out on Facebook, which I don't think is acceptable at all. There has been no reason given to us as to why it has closed, which again, I don't find acceptable.
“The closure has upset so many of the staff, as even though people would make horrible comments about Pontins, it was a nice place to work, and the staff were all very friendly to holidaymakers.
“I've now got to find another job, which isn't going to be easy. The only thing I can thank Pontins for is the friends I made while working there.
“Other than that, I can't say ‘thank you’ to the place, as I think it’s disgusting how it’s left so many people without a job this close to Christmas.
“I also feel so sorry for the holidaymakers that came every year and had holidays booked; children are going to be so upset as it really was a happy place for them to go. I'm just devastated.”
Another Pontins ex-employee, who asked not to be named, said he is saddened by the prospect of seeing his colleagues on a daily basis anymore.
He said: “I and other staff did extra hours without pay or thanks from Britannia, but we did this to help each other out as a loyal team and workforce.
“I’m unaware of how many people have lose their jobs, but I can say far too many good, loyal people have. We deserve answers.
“It has taken me several years to get financially back on my feet, and to get my last wage packet on the same day as losing my job really has made me worry about Christmas, household bills and child maintenance.
“I’m due to have knee replacement surgery in January, and can’t see anyone re-employing me with the knowledge of me requiring four to six weeks off to recover.
“The loyal friends I made there made the job and experience so enjoyable, and I am going to miss working with them all.
“I also made friends with regular guests at the park who knew the place was run-down, knew we were paid a low wage, but came back time after time because they knew we all made their stay as comfortable and welcoming as possible.”
An eleventh, who also said they found out through Facebook and does not know why the site closed, said: “It has had a massive impact.
“We are a very close family that worked so hard, and always went above and beyond for our park and the families that came to us.
“We will miss them all, and hopefully, we will find work soon. It’s very upsetting. No support has been offered so far, or any information - just silence.
“We have been overworked and underappreciated for many years now; it is absolutely disgusting behaviour.
“The truth is all we want and deserve. It's not about getting our jobs back now; it's about being treated as loyal human beings with families.
“Times are tough enough as it is. We all gave Britannia more than 100 per cent and deserve the truth.”
A twelfth, who said he also found out via Facebook, added: “I loved being there. I’m going to miss the laughs, and the people I worked with.”
Finally, a thirteenth ex-employee, who had worked at the park for more than three years, said he found out about the site closing through his son.
He said: “I heard about the closure from my son, who sent me a link. We have not had any official notification regarding the closure.
“I find having to hear about this from my son totally disgusting. I had no idea this was happening.”
James Davies, MP for Vale of Clwyd, said he was informed by the Home Office that the park will not be used to house asylum seekers.
Pontins said that customers whose bookings will be affected by the park’s closure will be contacted and refunded.
Meanwhile, North Wales-based Lyons Holiday Parks is looking to offer employment opportunities to those who have lost their jobs due to the park’s closure.
Lyons is also holding a drop-in recruitment session at Lyons Robin Hood, Rhyl, on December 8 from 10am-2pm.
Angela added: “As a team, we are very thankful of Lyons and Haven Holidays reaching out to staff; we do appreciate it.”
The Journal contacted Britannia Hotels for comment.
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