Sefton Council has unanimously agreed to invite a government minister to visit the Smedley Hydro Civil Service office in Birkdale, vowing to “assist through all practical means” to retain its 1,400 jobs amid a looming closure threat. The Victorian building, which houses the General Register Office for births, deaths and marriages, NHS Digital, and a Home Office department, is under review as part of a government property rationalisation programme, with fears jobs could be moved to Liverpool or Preston.
Historical Significance and Current Threat
The Smedley Hydro building began as Birkdale College, a school for boys, before being purchased by John Smedley in 1876 and converted into a hotel and spa offering hydrotherapy. After various extensions, including a third storey, it became the Smedley Hydro Hotel in 1932, featuring Turkish and plunge baths, conservatories, a sun lounge, and a ballroom. During World War Two, the government took over the building as a registration centre for the British population. In 1991, the General Register Office relocated from London to the site, where it has remained ever since.
Under the previous government, a decision was made to assess long-term options for the site as part of cost-effective management of the government estate. A Government Property Agency (GPA) spokesperson previously told the ECHO: “No changes would take place until 2030 at the earliest. An extensive consultation will take place with affected staff ahead of any change.” However, the PCS Union, which represents Civil Service staff, launched an “urgent campaign” in April, with a representative at the site warning that a timeline for closure by 2030 had been circulated.
Union and Local Concerns
The PCS Union representative told the ECHO: “There are lots of rumours flying about. All we know is that a timeline has been put out there that this building will close by 2030. At the moment, they’re doing a survey (about) what a new building would require because it’s been pretty much determined that we’ll move. That review’s going on at the moment, up until October, November time. Then from December this year to June 2027, a potential property will be identified, and only at that time when we know whether we’re moving. Obviously, once a potential property is identified in June 2027, it’ll be too late to do anything about it. People are fearful.”
Liberal Democrat group leader John Pugh brought a motion to Thursday’s Sefton Council meeting, calling on councillors to recognise the need to retain Civil Service jobs in Southport and ensure the building is not abandoned. He said: “Their concern was that things were going by default and people were not aware of the potential loss of jobs in Southport.” He noted that many Smedley employees have caring and childcare responsibilities, making relocation difficult. Cllr Pugh added: “There shouldn’t be a net loss of good Civil Service jobs in Southport, because Southport has got a lot of employment, but much of it is in the entertainment and leisure industry and is relatively unskilled. For younger people wanting to stay and forge a career in Southport, there aren’t that many opportunities.”
Council Motion and Amended Action
At the full council meeting, Cabinet member Diane Roscoe amended Cllr Pugh’s motion to reflect that local MP Patrick Hurley wrote to a minister on September 12, 2024, raising concerns about Smedley Hydro. Cllr Pugh acknowledged these efforts, stating: “Smedley is a very bespoke facility, there aren’t many facilities like that being used by government departments, and people don’t understand its contribution to the economy. If we all get together as a council and do something sensible for the people who actually work there, we’ll achieve something.”
Cllr Michael Braham, who seconded the motion, said: “Smedley Hydro is the cornerstone of government employment in the town, and is the second biggest source of employment in Southport.” He warned that closing the building would have a “devastating” impact on the local community economy. “The clock is ticking; we have little time to affect the decision to close.” He highlighted the nearby former Terra Nova School site, a former Civil Service site that closed in 2003 and now stands derelict after significant vandalism and arson. “Could Smedley Hydro suffer the same fate?” he asked.
The council voted unanimously in favour of the amended motion. Neither the PCS Union nor the GPA responded to a request for comment for this article.
