M&D’s theme park collapses into administration

The announcement comes after years of financial struggle and the coronavirus lockdown restricting visitors.

More than 150 jobs have been axed as Scotland’s largest theme park files for administration. 

M&D’s in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, has made 165 employees redundant.

In a statement, the park said: “We can confirm that Leonard Curtis has today placed M&D Leisure Ltd into administration.”

The company said it had been a “challenging few years” and that it had “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,” it said.

“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 theme park previously laid off staff in March “due to a downturn in business and the challenges of the tourism industry”.

In December, ten victims of a roller-coaster crash at the theme park secured £1.2m in damages.

Five carriages derailed from the Tsunami ride at the site on Sunday June 26, 2016, injuring eight children and two adults.

The park was also fined for health and safety breaches over the incident. 

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