Rumours that the derelict Pontins holiday park in Southport would be used to house asylum seekers have been debunked by the local MP. The site has been empty since it permanently closed in January 2024.
False Claims Spread Online
Over the weekend, several local community Facebook groups were flooded with claims that the site would accommodate asylum seekers. A video purporting to show thousands of people arriving at the site, along with a resurfaced clip that was previously proven to be fake, circulated on social media.
Sefton Central MP Bill Esterson has now stepped in to reassure residents that the government has no such plans. He 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."
Britannia's Long-Term Plans
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 use. A spokesperson 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 options for replacement. Meanwhile, the site has been made available to local emergency services for training exercises.
MP Highlights Migration Reduction
Mr Esterson also pointed to government successes in reducing migration: "Since the Labour government was elected, net migration has fallen by 82 per cent. Small boat crossings are down by 38 per cent this year and more than 67,000 people with no legal right to remain in the UK have been removed."
He added that work on nearby Ainsdale beach, including demolition of Toad Hall to make way for a car park, and plans for the empty Sands pub, are progressing to improve the area.
The latest rumours emerged over a year after similar false videos were shared on X, shortly after the Home Office reversed plans to take over the holiday park.
