HOLIDAY park operators have made “serious expressions of interest” in taking on the site formerly occupied by Pontins’ site in Prestatyn, the MP for Vale of Clwyd has said.

James Davies MP added that “discussions need to take place” regarding the site’s future, after Prestatyn Sands Holiday Park suddenly closed on November 30, 2023.

Dr Davies has also thanked Lucy Frazer MP, the secretary of state for culture, media and sport, for writing to Alex Langsam, chief executive of Britannia Hotels, which owns Pontins’ sites.

Staff at Prestatyn Sands learnt the park closed via Facebook, before being informed that the site shut due to a decline in business, the Journal understands.

Rhyl Journal: Prestatyn Sands Holiday ParkPrestatyn Sands Holiday Park (Image: Newsquest)

Pontins has also shut its parks in Camber Sands and Southport in the last two months, and has only three open sites remaining in the UK.

In her letter to Mr Langsam, Mrs Frazer wrote: “I read the news of the recent closures of the Pontins holiday parks with great regret for the sites’ employees and their local communities.

“This has also been brought to my attention by the MPs whose areas have been affected by these decisions.

“Holiday parks are a key part of the UK’s tourism landscape and enjoyed by many visitors around the country, as well as being important local employers and bringing wider benefits to regional visitor economies.

“Given the closure of sites in different parts of the UK, I am writing to ask that you engage as much as possible with the local MPs and local authorities in the affected areas. I am concerned by reports that Britannia is failing to engage as would normally be expected.

“My priority is supporting the people who have lost their jobs in these locations and the knock-on effects for local tourism businesses that rely on the secondary spend of visitors to Pontins.

“I would like to better understand why Britannia has decided to close these sites, and your future plans for them.

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Pontins Prestatyn staff say they learnt of site’s closure on Facebook

“I would therefore like to discuss these matters – my team can arrange a meeting and I would strongly encourage you to engage with them.

“I regard it as vital that Britannia allows MPs and local authority members to be given the information they seek about employee outcomes and the future of each site.”

Sharing Mrs Frazer’s letter on X (Twitter), Dr Davies wrote: “Thank you to Lucy Frazer for an important intervention in relation to the former Pontins sites in Prestatyn, Southport and Camber Sands.

“I have received serious expressions of interest in the Prestatyn site from holiday park operators and discussions need to take place.”

Dr Davies has previously written to a dozen successful holiday park operators to encourage them to look at acquiring the site.

On December 7, the Journal was told that, while Britannia Hotels was inviting offers for Prestatyn Sands, it was not yet prepared to enter into negotiations about the site at that stage.