This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-30205177
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Llewelyn-Bowen Christmas park near Sutton Coldfield to reopen | Llewelyn-Bowen Christmas park near Sutton Coldfield to reopen |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A Christmas attraction created with the help of Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen is due to reopen later after being forced to close because of complaints. | A Christmas attraction created with the help of Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen is due to reopen later after being forced to close because of complaints. |
Hundreds of people criticised the Magical Journey, at the Belfry Golf Club near Sutton Coldfield, for being overpriced and unfinished. | Hundreds of people criticised the Magical Journey, at the Belfry Golf Club near Sutton Coldfield, for being overpriced and unfinished. |
Bosses shut the attraction at the weekend to resolve the issues. | Bosses shut the attraction at the weekend to resolve the issues. |
They have banned the media from attending the reopening saying it would "create anxiety for visitors". | They have banned the media from attending the reopening saying it would "create anxiety for visitors". |
A statement said: "The Magical Journey team are hugely grateful for the support we have received from broadcast media and regional papers. | A statement said: "The Magical Journey team are hugely grateful for the support we have received from broadcast media and regional papers. |
"So it is with huge regret that we have decided not to open the event up to press on our re-opening day. | "So it is with huge regret that we have decided not to open the event up to press on our re-opening day. |
"Please understand that everything we have done, we have done in order to create a truly magical journey for the parents and specifically the children visiting. | "Please understand that everything we have done, we have done in order to create a truly magical journey for the parents and specifically the children visiting. |
"And we feel that camera crews, reporters and journalists are only going to take away from that experience and possibly even create anxiety for our visitors." | "And we feel that camera crews, reporters and journalists are only going to take away from that experience and possibly even create anxiety for our visitors." |
Hundreds of messages were posted on the Magical Journey's Facebook page after it opened. | Hundreds of messages were posted on the Magical Journey's Facebook page after it opened. |
A number of users complained about the price of admission - the top price for a child is £22.50 - and accused the management of misleading the public. | A number of users complained about the price of admission - the top price for a child is £22.50 - and accused the management of misleading the public. |
Refunds are being offered. | Refunds are being offered. |
Mother-of-four Michelle Guarini, from Stourport-on-Severn, said she had paid £150 for her family to visit. | Mother-of-four Michelle Guarini, from Stourport-on-Severn, said she had paid £150 for her family to visit. |
She said: "They made out it was going to be a fantastic, Narnia-like experience and there were workmen wandering around with cigarettes. | She said: "They made out it was going to be a fantastic, Narnia-like experience and there were workmen wandering around with cigarettes. |
"The Christmas market was about six shacks and there were some elves who didn't seem to know what they were doing. The kids were bored. It was appalling." | "The Christmas market was about six shacks and there were some elves who didn't seem to know what they were doing. The kids were bored. It was appalling." |
Event director Paul Dolan said work had been "severely hampered" by bad weather and the opening should have been postponed. | |
He told BBC WM they had now managed to do "all the work they wanted to do". | |
"It's looking magnificent," he said. |