"Pontins Closure Devastated Our Town: Visitor Numbers Plummet and the Future Looks Grim"

A SEASIDE village has been “killed” after the local Pontins closed down and was taken over by workers building Britain’s first new nuclear plant in 30 years.

Locals say the once-bustling resort is a shadow of its former self after hundreds of construction staff moved into the closed Pontins Brean Sands.

Brean Sands is the UK’s oldest Pontins, first opening in 1946 after serving as a former US Army base during World War IICredit: ANDREW LLOYD Local resident Maria Lewis-Johns, 66, who works part time cleaning holiday chaletsCredit: ANDREW LLOYD Multiple businesses have closed after EDF workers occupied the Pontins siteCredit: ANDREW LLOYD

When 900 EDF Energy workers arrived in 2023, residents were promised “millions of pounds of business all year round” during construction of the £46billion C power station nearby.

Three years on, villagers say their financial plight is worse than ever — and feel they have been let down by the energy giant.

EDF however insist there will be long-time benefits for the local area, with 80 new jobs and access to funding for the local community and businesses.

Council bosses have also said they are working to boost visitors – and are monitoring the situation in the town.

But with workers now occupying Pontins — the largest holiday park in Brean by some distance — locals claim things have gotten worse.

And just weeks ago Brean Theme Park – the UK’s largest free-entry park of its kind with 40 rides – went into liquidation.

It is another blow to the struggling, once bustling, town.

They say many staff choose to stay inside the holiday camp, where they have facilities including a bar, pool tables and a pool.

Local resident Maria Lewis-Johns, 66, who works part time cleaning holiday chalets, said the change has been devastating.

“It’s killed us,” Maria said.

“There used to be three thousand people per week coming through here but now it’s dead.

“It used to be brilliant but Pontins closing has killed it.

“I grew up around here and I used to go into the Queen Vic (pub and restaurant in Pontins) some evenings, it was always a great laugh and I do miss it.”

Her friend Kevin Davis, 68, fears the downturn will only deepen.

“Pontins closing was the start of the rot,” Kevin said.

“The Hinkley Point workers haven’t made a difference, they’re here to earn not to spend it.

“We haven’t seen any benefit to them being here.

“EDF keeps extending how long they are going to be here – I don’t know what will be left when they are gone.

“We have definitely been lied to about it helping the local economy. You see them coming out in coaches and but that does nothing for the area.”

900 EDF workers moved into Pontins Brean Sands in 2023Credit: ANDREW LLOYD Brean Sands was a former US Army base during World War IICredit: ANDREW LLOYD EDF spent £2million upgrading Pontins facilities before moving in their workersCredit: ANDREW LLOYD

The park had been due to re-open to the public next year following a refurbishment.

But with Hinkley Point C not expected to become operational until as late as 2031, it remains unclear how long workers will stay.

When our reporter walked through the village this week, most of the roughly 60 small businesses were shuttered.

Few tourists were seen visiting the windswept seafront at this time of year.

Among the closures are traditional arcades and fairgrounds, which had previously reported little interest from Hinkley Point workers.

Even bars, and takeaways have now been forced to shut their doors.

A spokesperson for Hinkley Point C said: “We are sorry to hear of the financial difficulties faced by the theme park. We know it has been a challenging time for tourism businesses across the south-west.

“Hinkley Point C is ready to support any of the staff facing redundancy with the help of our Jobs Service.”

They added that EDF has spent more than £2million on the Brean Sands site and has created 80 year-round jobs in the community, as well as providing funds to support the community and local businesses.

EDF Energy says it has invested heavily in the site, spending £2million upgrading Pontins facilities before moving workers in.

Andrew Cockcroft, head of stakeholder relations at Hinkley Point C, insisted Brean would benefit long term.

“The crisis has hit tourism everywhere and Brean has been affected by uncertainty over the future of the holiday camp,” he said.

“Our £2m investment in the holiday park will give it a viable future and provides 83 year-round in the community.

“Our workers will spend millions throughout the year, not just in the holiday peak season. Many businesses are thriving but where businesses are impacted, we are stepping in with marketing support and business grants.

“The community will also benefit from access to the Hinkley Point C community fund which is already supporting local organisations and charities.”

But inside the Quick Bite Café — one of the few businesses still open — staff painted a different picture.

Locals say Pontins closing was the start of the ‘rot’Credit: ANDREW LLOYD Our reporter walked through the village this week, most of the roughly 60 small businesses were shuttered and closedCredit: ANDREW LLOYD EDF staff staying on site staff choose to stay inside the holiday camp, where they have facilities including a bar, pool tables and a swimming poolCredit: ANDREW LLOYD

Becca Bond, who has worked there for 20 years, said trade has become a struggle.

“We’re lucky we have a few workmen around at the minute because otherwise it would be pretty dead,” Becca said.

“It is hard at times to keep things running year round but we are lucky to have such loyal customers.

“Pontins closing made a massive difference to the whole of Brean. It used to be really busy but that dropped off as soon as it closed.

“Hinkley Point workers don’t come in anything like as much as they said they were going to. You have the odd one here and there but nothing substantial.

“Summer can still be quite busy here but you have to make that last you the whole year because winter is so quiet.”

Somerset Council, however, say that there has been investment in the area which they hope will “boost visitors”.

A spokesperson told The Sun: “Recent investment and growth has been seen in the area with a £15million upgrade and transformation of the Unity Holiday Park that will continue to boost visitors to the area.

“The local community benefits from having access to Hinkley Point C’s £20 million community fund and in the summer months, the Hinkley accommodation at Brean is opened up to the family members of the workers and hundreds have taken up this opportunity.

“Somerset Council is working with representatives of the Brean business community, and EDF, to understand the direct impacts of the continued use of the Brean Pontins site as worker accommodation alongside the many external factors affecting the tourism sector.

“This is a live conversation with the relevant parties.

“The site is privately owned and is being leased by the Hinkley project; therefore, it will be returned to the owner at the end of the lease.”

A spokesman for Hinkley Point C told The Sun: “We are sorry to hear of the financial difficulties faced by the theme park, we know it has been a challenging time for tourism businesses across the South-West. Hinkley Point C is ready to support any of the staff facing redundancy with the help of our Jobs Service.

“While most Pontins sites across the country have closed, we’ve spent more than £2 million on the Brean Sands site and have created 80 year-round jobs in the community as well as providing funds to support the community and local businesses.”

Locals complain that the place is a shadow of its former selfCredit: ANDREW LLOYD Brean Sands first opened in 1946Credit: ANDREW LLOYD The council says Pontins will be returned to the owner at the end of the Hinkley projectCredit: ANDREW LLOYD