LAPLAND New Forest bosses are battling on with their troubled Christmas theme park despite calls for it to be closed down and the threat of prosecution.

The much-criticised site is still open for business despite more than 2,000 complaints and investigations from local councils and the RSPCA.

Dorset County Council’s trading officers are considering evidence after visiting the Matchams site to see for themselves what prompted so many calls from angry customers.

They took photographs and are considering whether there have been any breaches of consumer rights, and if customers have been misled.

East Dorset District Council continues to investigate health and safety issues and has stopped the sale of alcohol on the site. An alcohol licence had been granted but is not yet in force.

The council said that the majority of complaints about health and safety had proved to be unfounded but has identified a number of minor concerns.

Meanwhile, the RSPCA has launched a formal investigation after receiving calls from people worried about the treatment of animals at the attraction.

Hundreds of angry families have demanded that Lapland New Forest is closed down and are doing all they can to get their money back.

But when the Daily Echo called the booking line yesterday (Tues) we were told it was still open for business.

“We are still going. The publicity we have had has not been good because we had a disastrous opening weekend but things are in place to correct it,” we were told.

“Everything that could go wrong did go wrong and nothing went in our favour but now the ice rink is up and running and the fairground is working and is free of charge.”

Up to 50,000 people are believed to have pre-purchased tickets. Complaints have flooded in about the attraction, which costs £30 per person or £100 for a family of four.

Visitors told how they had to queue for hours to see Santa, who was spotted smoking outside his “grotto”, how food, drink and toys ran out and Santa and his elves were involved in scuffles with furious visitors.

Jayne Cox contacted the Daily Echo from her home in Devon and told how she and around a dozen other families from her local school have bought tickets.

“The first family went yesterday and were devastated – the rest of us just want out money back” she said. “We have booked hotels due to the travelling distance and my husband has taken his last two days of holiday entitlement for what was to be our magical Christmas time together as a family.”

Grandparents Jan and Mike Hudgell said it was “a complete disgrace” and added: “How people could do that to children I do not know.”

Do you have a spare ticket/s for Lapland on Friday, December 5? If so contact newsdesk@bournemouthecho.co.uk or call us on 01202 411293

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