165 jobs lost as theme park goes under

There was heartache for workers as M&D’s entered administration with 165 jobs axed.

Labelled as Scotland’s Theme Park, the Strathclyde Park firm appointed Leonard Curtis Business Rescue & Recovery as joint administrators on April 23.

It is understood stunned workers received an email the day before their usual payday explaining that“contracts had been terminated with immediate effect”.

Now, many employees say they cannot remit payment for their April salaries and instead have to apply for a capped payment from the Redundancy Payments Service (RPS).

In a statement, M&D’s said:“We can confirm that Michelle Elliot and Stuart Robb of Leonard Curtis have today been appointed administrators of M&D Leisure Ltd.

“It has been a challenging few years and we have worked really hard to try to diversify and keep the business afloat.

“Like many leisure businesses, the plans we had for the 2020 season have had to be cancelled due to COVID-19.

“We explored all options to try and safeguard the business and jobs of our colleagues, many of whom are longstanding, however it is with a heavy heart that we are having to make 165 employees redundant.”

The complex includes the Alona Hotel, Cosmic Bowl, Amazonia and Krazy Congo all of which were forced to close temporarily last month due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Earlier this month, Amazonia launched a Go Fund Me page aimed at covering the necessary costs to feed their zoo animals following the park’s closure.

The park opened in 1996 and had more than 40 attractions.

Last year the owners were fined £65,000 for health and safety breaches after a rollercoaster derailed in June 2016.

One man who is sad to see the park close is DreamMaker charity king Les Hoey who held many events at M&Ds.

He said:“Any time we were down at the park with the kids we were treated like royalty by the staff.

“It’s very sad.”