Council’s cash link to roller coaster crash theme park
A POLICE complaint about a theme park where nine were hurt in a roller coaster plunge was dismissed by a council which makes money from the attraction.
M&D’s, based at Strathclyde Country Park, was fined £65,000 by a court over an accident in June 2016 when cars fell 20ft.
Youngsters aged 11 to 19 suffered horrific injuries, Hamilton Sheriff Court heard in March.
Last week, North Lanarkshire Council’s regulatory committee decided not to revoke M&D Leisure’s public entertainment licence, despite police concerns.
As landowner, it takes more than £200,000 a year rent for the site, according to a council report.
Central Scotland MSP Margaret Mitchell said that given the ‘potential conflict of interest’ she would have expected the committee to seek independent advice.
M&D’s, which employs about 450 people, was fined for failing to ensure the Tsunami roller coaster was maintained properly at the time it derailed at 40mph.
The sheriff court heard that a boy of 12 suffered two punctured lungs and was placed in an induced coma for six days. An 11year-old boy lost part of his hand.
It was told welding repairs carried out to axles on individual cars were ‘inadequate and unsound’.
M&D Leisure had employed contractors to do the work but accepted it should have involved the manufacturer or another ‘competent person’ in the safety process. Following the prosecution, Police Scotland lodged a complaint about the company on public safety grounds.
Last year, the council agreed to increase the area of land it leases to M&D’s to allow extensions to the theme park and a hotel.
Council assistant chief executive Robert Steenson said then that the existing rent was £205,200 per year, ‘calculated on a turnover basis’. The extensions to the park and hotel would increase turnover by up to £4million.
Mr Steenson added: ‘This will result in increased rental income to the council and a positive impact on visitor numbers.’
The authority said no independent advice had been taken on last week’s decision but stressed its position as a landlord had not influenced the outcome.
A spokesman said: ‘The committee is legally bound to make an impartial decision based on all evidence provided to it from relevant parties on the day.’
M&D’s insists the theme park is safe. Company lawyer Lamont Baillie said: ‘This is a conscientious firm which gives safety paramount consideration and employs its own health and safety inspector.
‘The committee was satisfied M&Ds has done everything humanly possible to comply with Health and Safety Executive requirements.
‘It was held responsible in court in terms of legislation which imposes strict liability, but the fault lay with a firm which failed to carry out non-destructive testing properly.’