Holiday club heartache
Kids and parents from across Hamilton were left heartbroken and out of pocket after an alleged scam.
Over 100 people had stumped up hundreds of pounds between them to an online site for a trip to Blair Drummond Safari Park.
It charged customers £10 per adult and £6 per child for a seat on coaches to the popular venue.
But their hopes were dashed when they turned up to Beckford Street car park last Saturday to find that they were going nowhere.
The organiser failed to pay Golden Eagle Coaches for the hire so the drivers had to pull the plug on the trip.
“Everyone was absolutely raging,” said Kerryanne Kirkwood, 29, from Burnbank.
“A lot of the kids there had a disability or learning difficulties, and when they found their eagerly-awaited big day out was off, they were inconsolable.
“Feelings were running high everyone was so mad.”
Liz Keenan, 59, who has 18 grandchildren, had planned to go on the trip.
But she said: “The kids have been let and down. Some of them sat in the car park crying after they were taken off the bus to come home.
“There were 19 of us going today but there were families of seven and other large groups.
“To think that something like this could happen to children is horrible. It’s the start of their summer holidays and they’ve been hit with this. It’s such a shame.”
But in a welcome boost, Hamilton Accies have come up with some amazing offers to put the smile back on the little ones’ faces.
The Premier League club are giving 70 to 80 people a stadium tour, the chance to be among the first to sample the soonto-be-opened safari walk and a twocourse meal to round off the special day.
There will also be a chance for youngsters who missed out on the trip to gain free entry to Accies’ Premier League game against Kilmarnock on August 10.
Accies chief executive Colin Mcgowan has also pledged free season books to any under-16 kids who would like to come along and support Hamilton Accies.
“It’s hard to imagine what the excitement levels of the youngsters would have been like on the day of the planned trip,” he said.
“So it is despicable to think anyone could be so heartless.
“Ice must run through the veins of the person responsible and they should be ashamed of themselves.
“I would urge the person to come along on the day we have planned and apologise to all those who suffered. It would be a chance to try and make good what had been done.”
Blair Drummond Park chiefs also pitched in with a kind offer. They will give the youngsters a free day out to make out for last weekend’s cancelled trip. A spokesperson said: “This was a horrible situation – parents and children were left very upset but we were able to do something to help.
“We’ve arranged free admission for the families involved so that they can enjoy their day at Blair Drummond Safari Park.”
Golden Eagle Coaches said: “We’re looking into the incident and although it’s not our responsibility, we’re apologetic towards the families.”
Furious customers called police lodge a complaint.
A Police Scotland spokesman said a 26-year-old Hamilton woman has been arrested and charged in connection with an alleged fraudulent scheme. that to