Rumors about the use of the empty Pontins Southport site have resurfaced online, prompting local MP Bill Esterson to address the misinformation. The holiday park, located in Ainsdale, Merseyside, closed permanently in January 2024 and has remained vacant since then.
False Claims About Asylum Seekers
Over the weekend, several Southport community Facebook groups were flooded with claims that the site was being used to house asylum seekers. A video alleging that thousands of people were due to arrive at the site, along with a resurfaced old video previously debunked by the ECHO, circulated on social media. In response, Mr. Esterson sought to reassure residents that the empty holiday park was not being used without their knowledge.
Mr. Esterson stated: "The government has no plans to use the Pontins site to accommodate asylum seekers. Claims circulating online and in videos suggesting otherwise are inaccurate and deliberately misleading." He added that discussions with Britannia, the leaseholder, have focused entirely on long-term redevelopment and site security, with no indication of asylum accommodation being part of their plans.
Britannia's Plans for the Site
Britannia Hotels Group, which holds a 150-year lease on the site with over 130 years remaining, has been conducting surveys and land assessments to determine future uses. A spokesperson for Britannia said in April: "Following their closure, we have been undertaking a series of surveys and land assessments for our three vacant Pontins sites to determine what future uses may be viable." The company has appointed a planning consultancy to develop pre-planning applications for local authorities, including potential demolition of aged chalets and replacement options.
In the meantime, Britannia has made the site available to local emergency services for training exercises, which explains recent reports of police officers and dogs on the premises. Merseyside Police confirmed that the site was being used for training purposes.
Local Development and Community Impact
Work is ongoing at Ainsdale beach, where the derelict Toad Hall is expected to be demolished to make way for a car park. Plans for the empty Sands pub are also underway, which will help change the look of the area. Mr. Esterson highlighted the government's actions to reduce small boat crossings, noting that net migration has fallen by 82% since the Labour government was elected, and small boat crossings are down by 38% this year.
Sefton Council has been in discussions with Britannia about the site's future. Cllr Paulette Lappin, cabinet member for regeneration, skills and employment, said: "In the interim we’ll do some market testing to see what ideas potential investors may have for the site alongside the wider coastal gateway if the current leaseholders aren’t interested in doing something of benefit for the local community."
Community Reactions
Local residents have mixed feelings about the closure. Lorraine Griffin, a resident of Ainsdale for over 30 years and employee at The Chocolate Box newsagents, said: "It's a shame really because it did bring people into the town and into the village. It helped the shop too because we sell buckets and spades, sweets for the kids, so it did bring people into the shop, but having said that the shop is doing well without it." She noted that the village has seen redevelopment since Pontins' closure and continues to thrive.
