Andy Burnham has been urged to intervene amid fears that government offices could close. A rally on Saturday, October 31, in Southport town centre called for the Smedley Hydro General Register Office and the HM Passport Office on Trafalgar Road in the Birkdale area of Southport to remain open.
It was led by the PCS union. Supporters gathered on Chapel Street before marching along Lord Street as they appealed for support. Smedley Hydro has seen news coverage in recent months as it was revealed the offices on Trafalgar Road are under review by the government.
Around 1,500 jobs at risk on Southport site
The building holds staff from the General Register Office, HM Passport Office, the Home Office and NHS Digital, and is one of the largest employers in the Southport area. It is estimated there are around 1,500 jobs at the site.
Its future is uncertain as it is currently being reviewed for closure by the Government Property Agency (GPA). The jobs currently housed in the building would likely be moved to Liverpool and Preston should the offices shut.
A PCS rep told the ECHO in April that the GPA is already planning to close the building. They argued most of the employees live locally and would be unable to commute to a new location if the offices were shut down.
A GPA spokesperson said in response that no changes would take place until 2030 at the earliest and an extensive consultation with affected staff would take place.
Union warns of impact on local economy
But rallies against the closure continue to take place. PCS members say 98% of those surveyed want the jobs to remain in Southport and warn that relocation could have a significant impact on staff, particularly those with disabilities, health conditions and caring responsibilities. Increased travel times and costs could make it impossible for some employees to remain in their roles, the union said.
Speaking at the demonstration, Natasha Ayres from the PCS Union said: “We are here today because we care about Southport, we care about our community, and protecting good jobs for local people.
“At the heart of the campaign is Smedley Hydro, one of Southport’s largest employers and a workplace that’s been part of our town for generations.
“Every day workers at Smedley deliver vital public services at the General Register Office and the HM Passport Office. These dedicated staff help people across the country and today they need our support.
“Because these are not just jobs - they put food on their table for families, help pay mortgages and rents. And support local cafes, shops and restaurants within our town.
“Yet these proposals could see these workers moved away from Southport. If that happens, the consequences will be felt far beyond the walls of Smedley.
“It will put hundreds of [of jobs at] risk. It will weaken our local economy. It will hurt businesses that rely on the spending power of the workers. And it will affect families across the community.
“For many staff, relocation is not an option. They have childcare responsibilities, caring commitments, and deep roots in the town. They should not be forced to choose between their family life and their livelihood. The message from PCS members is clear. A recent survey found that nine out of 10 staff want this work to remain in Southport.”
Campaign petition to go to Downing Street
Steph Price from the PCS Union said Andy Burnham needs to be made aware of the dangers of job losses and act accordingly. She said: “We are calling on ministers and senior leaders to come to Southport and visit Smedley Hydro, meet the workforce, and hear directly from the people who will be affected by these decisions.
“We intend to take our PCS Smedley Hydro campaign petition to 10 Downing Street with the aim of ensuring Ministers and the Prime Minister understand the effects that closing Smedley Hydro and moving that large workforce to a different town will have on our community in Southport.
“Not only will it stop young people coming to the town and finding employment and skilled work, it will also have a devastating and ongoing impact on the local economy.
“Once these jobs are lost to our local area, we will not get them back.
“Please support our campaign, and sign our petition, so we can go to 10 Downing Street and reinforce the need to the Home Office for Southport jobs to remain.”
The union is also questioning the case for closing the site, pointing to Smedley Hydro’s accessibility, condition and previous investment, as well as the potential costs of relocation and the loss of specialist knowledge and experience.
PCS general secretary, Fran Heathcote said: “Southport has already lost too many vital public services and good, secure jobs. Our community should not have to stand by and watch as the government considers moving jobs out of the town without properly considering the people who depend on these services, or the staff whose lives and futures will be turned upside down.
“Smedley Hydro has a skilled, dedicated workforce delivering a unique national service. These are not just jobs on a spreadsheet, they are people’s livelihoods, careers and communities. They matter to the staff who do them, to the Home Office and to the future of Southport.”
In response to these concerns, a GPA spokesperson previously told the ECHO: “A decision was taken under the previous government to assess long-term options for the site as part of cost-effective management of the government estate.
“No changes would take place until 2030 at the earliest. An extensive consultation will take place with affected staff ahead of any change.”
