Northampton holiday park suspends day passes after fire which led to arson investigation
A holiday park in Northampton has suspended the sale of day passes after a fire, which led to an arson investigation.
Two disused caravans were destroyed by a fire at Billing Aquadrome on Wednesday (August 28) and owners have now said they believe it was “started by individuals who were not staying there”.
Firefighters were called around 2pm and extinguished the fire. Nobody was injured.
Northamptonshire Police has today (Thursday August 29) confirmed they are investigating the incident as criminal damage – arson, which has led to Meadow Bay Villages – the owners of Billing Aquadrome – suspending day passes, which allow non-owners access to facilities on the site. They say they hope it is a "short-term measure”.
In a post on social media, the owners said: “Owners, holidaymakers and visitors may be aware that two caravans at Billing Aquadrome were destroyed in a fire at the park yesterday (Wednesday 28 August).
“Whilst no one was injured in the incident thankfully, we believe this may have been a deliberate act by individuals who were not staying with us.
“For that reason, we have made the difficult decision to suspend the sale of passes for day passes to Billing Aquadrome for the time being. Owner passes will remain unaffected at this time.
“The safety of our owners, holidaymakers and team is of paramount importance, and whilst we are proud of how our team dealt with this matter, we need to ensure that the resort remains a safe and secure place for all.
“We remain in discussions with police, who are investigating the incident, but only once they advise on their progress will we be able to review this matter.
“We hope this is just a short-term measure and we can welcome day visitors back soon.”
The owners only took over the holiday park in March 2024 and have already pumped around £12 million of investment into the site.
New facilities have been introduced including a brand-new BMX pump track, mini football pitches, expanded playgrounds, a splash park, a newly developed amphitheatre for entertainment and more.
The old Mini Golf Island is set to be turned into Adventure Island. This new area will feature a variety of activities, including axe throwing, fishing lessons, and bug hunts, according to the owners.