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NO HO HO AT LAPLAND IN FOREST - UPDATED
1:00pm Monday 1st December 2008
Comments (55)“DISGUSTED” customers of a Christmas theme park have jammed the Daily Echo’s phone line with complaints.
Families contacted us in desperation after queuing for several hours on Saturday to see Santa Claus at Lapland New Forest.
Jane Barr from Bournemouth said she had paid £110 to take her mother, sister, nephew and niece on the trip to Matchams leisure park near Ringwood.
She said: “I’m absolutely disgusted; this was a complete waste of money. We queued for about an hour to get into the park and waited another two hours for Santa.”
After driving from Farnham with his two grandchildren, grandfather Kenneth Maynard queued for 45 minutes.
Mum-of-two Nicola Arnold who travelled from Swindon said: “It’s a complete scam. Hundreds of people are walking around and asking ‘Is this it?’ People are bitterly disappointed.”
Henry Mears, the event’s advertising chief, blamed family illness and unreliable staff for a “very serious problem.”
“It’s been a very bad first day. I’m a bit ashamed of myself, to be honest. I would like to apologise to all those people affected. But we will get it sorted out for tomorrow,” said Mr Mears.
One of three men booked to work at the park as Santa Claus had phoned in ill. Staff supporting the ice rink had been working all day to repair a fractured aluminium pipe, he added.
But yesterday the story was the same with families walking out in disgust. One father said: “It’s an absolute shocker; we paid £30 for me and my wife to get in; under-twos cost £10. It’s nothing like how it is portrayed on the website.”
Terry Powell from Swindon paid £160 for his family to visit Lapland New Forest. He said: “There weren’t any officials around to complain to so I’m planning to take the matter further. They are contravening the Trade Descriptions Act.”
Karl Moore, 24, from Portsmouth and his family paid £225 for the experience. He said: “We were planning to stay here all day but, after an hour, we’d had enough.
“There was nothing for the kids to do. We saw two donkeys and some deer in the forest but they were asleep. Jean Moore said: “It was a total waste of money”
Event advertising manager Henry Mears told the BBC: "People [should] stroll around instead of joining queues which is what people like to do in this country and take in the whole experience and then stay until about 4 o'clock.
"Then the light goes down and it is beautiful in the tunnel of light. You can see the real value at that time of the night.
"It is absolutely beautiful but you can't see a tunnel of light at 12 o'clock in the day. People should understand that, surely to God?"
Were you there? What did you think? Let us know by emailing newsdesk@bournemouthecho.co.uk or call 01202 411294
Ivan Hancock, principal Trading Standards officer for Dorset County Council, said: "I'm staggered at the number of complaints we have had in a short space of time. We've already had over 50 this morning.
"That's quite alarming. We are looking at what enforcement action is appropriate. It does appear as though some misdescriptions have been applied." He added that the department did not have the power to shut down the attraction.
"Anyone with tickets for the event needs to be prepared to be disappointed. If I was in their shoes, I would look very carefully at anything that appears in the media and try to get their money back in advance."
Disappointed customers should contact Consumer Direct on 08454 040506 for further advice.
Or you can contact Mr Henry Mears at info@laplandnewforest.co.uk
Following the many complaints we received about this Lapland experience we took the decision on Sunday, in conjunction with the advertiser, to pull all adverts connected with this event.
Your Say YourBournemouth Echo
Viv50, says...
9:51am Mon 1 Dec 08
The people behind this need to be brought to book. I am disgusted that anyone, even chavs, can sink this low.
Adrian XX, Poole says...
10:15am Mon 1 Dec 08
I just thought I would mention this in case anyone was about to buy tickets to Lapland New Forest.
http://book.flythoma
scook.com/skylights/
cgi-bin/skylights.cg
i
http://www.levi.fi/e
n/home.html
yogatee, throop says...
10:49am Mon 1 Dec 08
Julie G, Christchurch says...
10:54am Mon 1 Dec 08
yogatee, throop says...
11:00am Mon 1 Dec 08
Todd3922, BOURNEMOUTH says...
11:02am Mon 1 Dec 08
I would rather spend more money and take our 3 year old somewhere that won't ruin his idea of christmas!.
Viv50, says...
11:12am Mon 1 Dec 08
There is a website message board saying much the same thing about a building company fronted by the same people/directors as this event.
Look at companies house to find out all about them and their vile businesses. They are heartless thieves.
Bambi, Southampton says...
11:14am Mon 1 Dec 08
http://www.dailyecho
.co.uk/news/3938371.
Investigation_after_
_magical__New_Forest
_Lapland_attraction_
leaves_families_fumi
ng/
Wrighto, Bournemouth says...
11:20am Mon 1 Dec 08
All you disgruntled peopel should contact Watchdog on the BBC and get them down there pronto!!
ZombieJesus, says...
11:54am Mon 1 Dec 08
yogatee wrote:How did you 'lose all your savings'? They didn't steal £150 off you, you voluntarily handed over that money. If £150 is your entire savings for Christmas, may I suggest that chucking it all at a bit of fenced-off forest dolled up with fake snow is not the smartest use of your funds?
I am waiting for my £150 refund. I am an Oap and disabled and I was tolf someone would call me today at 9am. The place is a disgrace and I am surprised the Echo advertise it as the likes of me would never have lost all our savings and ruined Christmas. I have my mothers death to grive over and their hard heart in not replying has mad matters even worse. This is Chritmas good will to all men but in Laplands New Forest case it is Scrooge!
DailyView, Bournemouth says...
12:25pm Mon 1 Dec 08
Daily Echo, use your powers to get at these people, and/or forward on to something like Watchdog.
As for ZombieJesus. There is always one is'nt there. It does not matter how much this person has lost, it is the principle of the matter. Go back to sleep.
john_the_idiot, christchurch says...
12:39pm Mon 1 Dec 08
amused, poole says...
12:40pm Mon 1 Dec 08
ZombieJesus wrote:have a heart Zombie
yogatee wrote: I am waiting for my £150 refund. I am an Oap and disabled and I was tolf someone would call me today at 9am. The place is a disgrace and I am surprised the Echo advertise it as the likes of me would never have lost all our savings and ruined Christmas. I have my mothers death to grive over and their hard heart in not replying has mad matters even worse. This is Chritmas good will to all men but in Laplands New Forest case it is Scrooge!How did you 'lose all your savings'? They didn't steal £150 off you, you voluntarily handed over that money. If £150 is your entire savings for Christmas, may I suggest that chucking it all at a bit of fenced-off forest dolled up with fake snow is not the smartest use of your funds?
autumnal2, dorchester says...
12:57pm Mon 1 Dec 08
GB1980, Southbourne says...
12:58pm Mon 1 Dec 08
But seriously, if I had spent that much to go there I would be pretty browned off as well.
ZombieJesus, says...
1:05pm Mon 1 Dec 08
amused wrote:It's terrible if people have been ripped off, but hyperbole like 'I lost all my savings' makes it sound like they came round her house and forced her to hand over the cash at gunpoint. She chose to pay that money, and I agree a refund should be forthcoming, but don't play the sympathy card and blame your personal circumstances for poor decision making.
ZombieJesus wrote:have a heart Zombie
yogatee wrote: I am waiting for my £150 refund. I am an Oap and disabled and I was tolf someone would call me today at 9am. The place is a disgrace and I am surprised the Echo advertise it as the likes of me would never have lost all our savings and ruined Christmas. I have my mothers death to grive over and their hard heart in not replying has mad matters even worse. This is Chritmas good will to all men but in Laplands New Forest case it is Scrooge!How did you 'lose all your savings'? They didn't steal £150 off you, you voluntarily handed over that money. If £150 is your entire savings for Christmas, may I suggest that chucking it all at a bit of fenced-off forest dolled up with fake snow is not the smartest use of your funds?
naomisales, Christchurch says...
1:50pm Mon 1 Dec 08
djd, bournemouth says...
2:03pm Mon 1 Dec 08
It looked too good to be true- and it is, glad I didn't waste my money.
Peggy Babcock, Poole says...
2:11pm Mon 1 Dec 08
DemonDiva, Bournemouth says...
2:29pm Mon 1 Dec 08
ZombieJesus wrote:I have to say that I completely agree with Zombie's post. Yogatee is playing the sympathy card mentioning that she's grieving for her mother. If she was grieving that much she wouldn't be going to Lapland New Forest. And there is absolutely no need to mention it in connection with this article. She chose to pay to go, she has to take the consequences. Now if she's trying to get a refund on the basis that her mother has literally just passed away and the booking is for next weekend, that's a different story. But nonetheless it's still all hyperbole and spin.
amused wrote:It's terrible if people have been ripped off, but hyperbole like 'I lost all my savings' makes it sound like they came round her house and forced her to hand over the cash at gunpoint. She chose to pay that money, and I agree a refund should be forthcoming, but don't play the sympathy card and blame your personal circumstances for poor decision making.
ZombieJesus wrote:have a heart Zombie
yogatee wrote: I am waiting for my £150 refund. I am an Oap and disabled and I was tolf someone would call me today at 9am. The place is a disgrace and I am surprised the Echo advertise it as the likes of me would never have lost all our savings and ruined Christmas. I have my mothers death to grive over and their hard heart in not replying has mad matters even worse. This is Chritmas good will to all men but in Laplands New Forest case it is Scrooge!How did you 'lose all your savings'? They didn't steal £150 off you, you voluntarily handed over that money. If £150 is your entire savings for Christmas, may I suggest that chucking it all at a bit of fenced-off forest dolled up with fake snow is not the smartest use of your funds?
very angry mum, taunton says...
2:43pm Mon 1 Dec 08
Merrin, Poole says...
2:52pm Mon 1 Dec 08
Take a look at the web-site and the descriptions of what is on offer. Now compaire it to what people actualy got. Now you have a good case for mis-representation and misleading ad's.
The best thing to do here would be for the Echo to get details from all those who have been misled and help them file an action against the people responsible for this.
someone who cares, bournemouth says...
3:01pm Mon 1 Dec 08
SHE HAS A HEART OF GOLD SOMETHING YOU BOTH SEEM TO HAVE MISSING.
HER MOTHER DIED ON SATURDAY EVENING NO IT IS NOT A SYMPATHY CARD SHAME ON YOU ALL!!!! THE POOR WOMAN IS GRIEIVNG AS ARE HER FAMILY AND YOU HAVE ADDED TO HER SORROW. I FOR ONE HOPE THIS RUBBISH PLACE HAS SOME KINDNESS AND REFUNDS HER MONEY THEY WERE DUE TO GO NEXT SATURDAY AND I AM LOOKING AFTER HER TODAY AS YOU HAVE ADDED TO HER GRIEF THANK YOU SO MUCH. SHE IS AND NEVER HASPLAYED ON SYMPATHY I AM SO SORRY IF HER TRUTH OFFENDED YOU BUT THE TRUTH IT IS.
SHE HAS LOST £150 A PRESENT FOR HER GRANDCHILDREN AND CHILDREN OFCOURSE THEY WILL NOT GO THEY ARE GRIEF STRIKEN. MORE SO NOW. THANK YOU FOR YOUR NASTY COMMENTS ABOUT A WONDERFUL SOUL YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT SHE IS HONEST AND KIND RARE QUALITIES TODAY. IT IS A SHAME THE LAPLAND NEW FOREST CANNOT KEEP THEIR WORD.
cliff williams, East Cowes I O W says...
3:02pm Mon 1 Dec 08
There is nothing magical about this experience
bugchick, North Dorset says...
3:40pm Mon 1 Dec 08
As for strolling around, maybe this would have happened if there had been anything interesting to look at or take part in.
Henry Mears should be ashamed of himself.
Ukrainian Phil, York says...
4:10pm Mon 1 Dec 08
Here in York we've got a PROPER Lapland, with well-managed, progressive full-time huskies an all. Our great History stretches all the way back to the great 92 reindeer of old Jarvik, when truly huge crowds used to enjoy watching quality, top level snowballing.
Southerners - HTFU!
john_the_idiot, christchurch says...
4:16pm Mon 1 Dec 08
someone who cares wrote:Opinions vary my love, and we are all entitled to one.
I FEEL ASHAMED AT THE COMMNETS OF BOTH ZOMBIE JESUS! AND DEMON DIVA. DO YOU REALISE THAT I KNOW THIS WONDERFUL LADY WHO, ALTHOUGH DISABLED TRIED HER BEST TO GIVE HER FAMILY A SURPRISED CHRISTMAS PRESENT YES, FROM HER SAVINGS THAT TOOK HER A WHOLE YEAR TO SAVE. SHE IS NOT STUPID THE ECHO ADVERTISED A MAGICAL PLACE. SHE HAS A HEART OF GOLD SOMETHING YOU BOTH SEEM TO HAVE MISSING. HER MOTHER DIED ON SATURDAY EVENING NO IT IS NOT A SYMPATHY CARD SHAME ON YOU ALL!!!! THE POOR WOMAN IS GRIEIVNG AS ARE HER FAMILY AND YOU HAVE ADDED TO HER SORROW. I FOR ONE HOPE THIS RUBBISH PLACE HAS SOME KINDNESS AND REFUNDS HER MONEY THEY WERE DUE TO GO NEXT SATURDAY AND I AM LOOKING AFTER HER TODAY AS YOU HAVE ADDED TO HER GRIEF THANK YOU SO MUCH. SHE IS AND NEVER HASPLAYED ON SYMPATHY I AM SO SORRY IF HER TRUTH OFFENDED YOU BUT THE TRUTH IT IS. SHE HAS LOST £150 A PRESENT FOR HER GRANDCHILDREN AND CHILDREN OFCOURSE THEY WILL NOT GO THEY ARE GRIEF STRIKEN. MORE SO NOW. THANK YOU FOR YOUR NASTY COMMENTS ABOUT A WONDERFUL SOUL YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT SHE IS HONEST AND KIND RARE QUALITIES TODAY. IT IS A SHAME THE LAPLAND NEW FOREST CANNOT KEEP THEIR WORD.
She has not lost anything, she purchased a service, if she was unhappy with the service she should complain to the provider not to me.
Please do not be ashamed for the comments of others for you did not speak them from your gentle mouth.
Brilliant, says...
4:16pm Mon 1 Dec 08
As for all the whinging and the ridiculous excuses used to justify your dissapointment - get over it! You paid more than you could afford for something you didn't get. It happens occasionally and no amount of whinging is going to fix it. At best you 'might' get your money back but even then I'm pretty sure that you'll waste it on something else equally as stupid! The rate this is going we'll have a spokesman from our nanny government suggesting steps are taken to protect the public from low-grade winter wonderlands!
silky, says...
4:26pm Mon 1 Dec 08
Bournehammer68, Bournemouth says...
4:45pm Mon 1 Dec 08
Ukrainian Phil wrote:Northern Monkey! hard working don't make me laugh. if that were the case my taxes wopuldn't be sent up north to support all the slackers thgat can't get off their backsides.
How Tinpot is that? But that's all you southerners deserve anyway, living off the backs of hard-working Northerners like us. Here in York we've got a PROPER Lapland, with well-managed, progressive full-time huskies an all. Our great History stretches all the way back to the great 92 reindeer of old Jarvik, when truly huge crowds used to enjoy watching quality, top level snowballing. Southerners - HTFU!
go mush some peas!
Ukrainian Phil, York says...
4:54pm Mon 1 Dec 08
Bournehammer68 wrote:"Go mush some peas!"
Ukrainian Phil wrote: How Tinpot is that? But that's all you southerners deserve anyway, living off the backs of hard-working Northerners like us. Here in York we've got a PROPER Lapland, with well-managed, progressive full-time huskies an all. Our great History stretches all the way back to the great 92 reindeer of old Jarvik, when truly huge crowds used to enjoy watching quality, top level snowballing. Southerners - HTFU!Northern Monkey! hard working don't make me laugh. if that were the case my taxes wopuldn't be sent up north to support all the slackers thgat can't get off their backsides. go mush some peas!
This won't work as a command. 'Mush, mush' works better on the common husky (canis familiaris). That, or a big club.
Canis Familiaris. Sounds like most of the women on a night out in Jumpin Jaks in Bournemouth. That's a big club too, mind.
DailyView, Bournemouth says...
5:02pm Mon 1 Dec 08
This was an advertisement that was quite legitimate as all adverts usually are. The time of year approaches, so many thought this would be a good day out for family, children etc. Sadly those who live a way from this area do not know what happens behind the pine trees of Matchams Park. NOTHING. It is a condemned area and has been for months, years. Everything it does fails, or does not take place. It is not the first time that Matchams has advertised something and the gates have been closed on arrival. There is only one good thing for Matchams Park, and that is a box of matches and a can of petrol.
This news has been reported on this forum, the Daily Echo, the Daily Echo online forum, other websites, and also the local news. Hopefully Mr. Henry Mears and his staff will be forced into repaying everyone, and to be forced to close down the Park.
I am surprised the New Forest Planners did not step in quickly and condemn the use of the name, New Forest Lapland. Parley Woods, Hurn Forest maybe, New Forest it is not.
Bob49, Bournemouth says...
5:14pm Mon 1 Dec 08
When we came to register there were long queues. To make matters worse King Herod's tales of wanting to visit my son were lies, he even set about killing all the other infants.
I hope people take note of our misfortune and remember what happened here and what it meant.
Adrian XX, Poole says...
5:41pm Mon 1 Dec 08
http://news.bbc.co.u
k/1/hi/england/dorse
t/7758112.stm
amused, poole says...
5:44pm Mon 1 Dec 08
Adrian XX, Poole says...
6:04pm Mon 1 Dec 08
amused wrote:A court case may be necessary to force a refund. If Henry Mears or his company has no money, then there will be no refunds.
I cannot believe all the nasty remarks on here, and how people go off the subject. Whatever peoples opions are it seems to me this website advertised something it did nit deliver and all those people should get a refund under the trade descriptions act
geniehawk, Bristol says...
6:13pm Mon 1 Dec 08
signup, Northbourne says...
7:20pm Mon 1 Dec 08
Did you know Santa Claus pictures are based upon the Coca Cola artist looking at himself in the mirror...he was a fat alcoholic with a shiny red nose.
oneshortleg, kinson says...
7:30pm Mon 1 Dec 08
£30 a ticket are you mad and at matchams simply laughable!
Still there are winners here how much have you made Echo from Advertising space!
Swanage railway and Paultons are excellent.
Bob49, Bournemouth says...
7:59pm Mon 1 Dec 08
I should hate for them to have to lose out on this 'worthy' venture.
Perhaps we could be told.
Palmer236, Bournemouth says...
8:47pm Mon 1 Dec 08
After the promises that were made on the booking website, I would think the organisors are better suited to being in cloud cuckoo rather than Lapland!!
##definately going to contact trading standards to get a full refund, hope more people do the same##
toby1980, says...
8:57pm Mon 1 Dec 08
tim m, says...
9:17pm Mon 1 Dec 08
solarsun, Bournemouth says...
9:35pm Mon 1 Dec 08
Everyone was willing to hand over hundreds of pounds just based on some large ads in the Echo and a half decent website.
I wouldn't have paid that sort of money without 'seeing the goods' in a million years, but thousands have done.
But who's to blame for this? The company for laying on a poor experience, obviously, but who are they answerable to? Trading Standards? They admit that they can't shut it down so can someone please say who IS in a position to do something? The answer is that probably no one can do it and the organisers will walk away with hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Not just rip-off Britain, but dirty, disgusting, vile Britain.
bishop, Southampton says...
9:37pm Mon 1 Dec 08
Having seen the website a couple of months ago (it did look rather good), and the photos of the reality of it today perhaps someone ought to get the national papers involved? They'll find out a bit more about the promoters too....
amused, poole says...
10:11pm Mon 1 Dec 08
pooleguy, poole says...
11:20pm Mon 1 Dec 08
PoliGent, Poole says...
12:11am Tue 2 Dec 08
bishop, Southampton says...
12:59am Tue 2 Dec 08
4:16pm Mon 1 Dec 08
What were you expecting from a old bangor racing site in November when it's freezing cold and the wind is blowing the rain in sideways? £25 a ticket are you all mad!!?
As for all the whinging and the ridiculous excuses used to justify your dissapointment - get over it! You paid more than you could afford for something you didn't get. It happens occasionally and no amount of whinging is going to fix it. At best you 'might' get your money back but even then I'm pretty sure that you'll waste it on something else equally as stupid! The rate this is going we'll have a spokesman from our nanny government suggesting steps are taken to protect the public from low-grade winter wonderlands!"
****.
manana, southbourne says...
9:28am Tue 2 Dec 08
JLC, Bournemouth says...
10:36am Tue 2 Dec 08
I can't believe you are moaning about the huskies being chained either? You'd all be up in arms if they weren't on chains and one went ferral and bit a chlds windpipe out! You expect them to allow savage dogs to run around freely amongst innocent little children? As for Reindeer, well they are just as dangerous. See the link below about a man in Scotland who was gouged by one of these WILD ANIMALS!
http://www.accessmyl
ibrary.com/coms2/sum
mary_0286-26386514_I
TM
You should think yourselves lucky that the event owners were sensible to keep these things chained up. If you're silly enough to part with £200 to see the innards of a bean bag scattered all over the forest floor, then you are certainly stupid enough to get you and your children attacked by these beasts.
Wanting the animals to run free. Honestly. you people should be ashamed!
Exe, Exeter says...
2:50pm Tue 2 Dec 08
bonzo the bear, Basingstoke says...
11:29pm Tue 2 Dec 08
glad to see the spirit of free enterprise is alive and well in these troubled times!
love the polar bear!
valmblackwood, Bournemouth says...
7:46am Thu 4 Dec 08
I saw the advert and thought, "The day I pay that kind of money for any attraction, they can come and take me away."
And certainly, anyone who paid to get in to this attraction after all the negative publicity deserves what they got. There's been enough about it in the media.
Eight-year-old Liam and his four-year-old sister Renee were just two of many children disappointed in the Lapland themed-village at Matchams Leisure P
An image from the Lapland website
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2Much...again!, Ringwood says...
8:48am Mon 1 Dec 08