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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Kate Lally

Woman says she'll never go back to Southport after Pontin's trip

A woman has said she'll never go back to Southport after spending a day at the town's Pontins holiday park.

Southport is set for drastic changes after being awarded a staggering £38.5m from the government earlier this year.

The money will pay for a range of “exciting” plans aimed at turning the seaside town into an “all-weather attraction”, as well as being used to help regenerate the town centre and drive business growth.

READ MORE: Couple left sleeping on chairs in their living room after stairlift condemned

But the Pontins site in particular has attracted the attention of the local MP.

Conservative MP Damien Moore says he received a call from a visitor to Southport who "will not be returning".

Writing on his Facebook page, Mr Moore said: "The visitor had driven three hours with her family to stay at Pontins, but left after a day. I see and hear stories like this every day – whether through my office, via local media, or through conversations I have with people in our town.

"I am working hard to secure investment for Southport, fill our empty commercial units with great businesses, and attract visitors – all while making our town a better place to live.

"Britannia Hotels, the group which own Pontins, are tarnishing this work. I have raised this in Parliament, with select committees, and with Britannia directly."

It's not the first time Mr Moore has slammed the company.

In July, the MP called Pontins Southport the "biggest blight on Ainsdale" amid calls for the holiday park to leave the area.

The Britannia-owned resort has come under fire in recent times, with many guests telling the ECHO of their stories from the seaside holiday park.

A "family kicking off" sparked a huge police response at Pontins in Southport in June this year.

A group of holidaymakers were said to have "had to be removed" from the camp, on Shore Road in Ainsdale.

More recently, a girl's birthday trip was cut short due to "constant screaming".

Anthony Southall visited the holiday park in Southport on Monday, July 26 with his wife Rebecca, their son, Benjamin, and daughters, Addison and Presley.

The family booked the trip for Addison's fifth birthday, and had planned to stay for four nights - but said there was "no way" they could stay for the duration. The family, from the Midlands, checked out first thing the Tuesday morning.

However, there have also been some positive reviews of the site.

One mum, who admitted she had been dreading her stay, said she was "shocked" at how clean the chalet was.

Britannia was approached for comment but had not responded by the time of publication.

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