Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Tourism boss says Hinkley staff don’t spend like tourists
ATOURISM boss in Somerset has claimed that the use of Pontins Brean Sands to house hundreds of Hinkley Point C workers is harming the tourism economy – as they don’t spend as much as families on holiday.
But EDF has defended its investment in the area, saying it gives the holiday park a viable long-term future.
Up to 900 staff from Hinkley Point C have been living at Pontins Brean Sands and are expected to be there through 2024 and perhaps beyond.
The holiday resort has seen a refurbishment of the chalets worth around £2 million, which saw new kitchens, bathrooms, furniture, TVs and new Wi-Fi access installed.
Yet Discover Brean has criticised the use of the site by Hinkley Point C workers, claiming it has had an impact on the local economy and nearby traders.
EDF points out that three other Pontins resorts elsewhere in the country – including in Southport this week – have closed in the past 18 months, in contrast to it investing at Brean.
Reports from tourism operators last summer blamed a wet July and August, plus the cost-of-living crisis, for lower footfall at seaside resorts across the country.
Alan House though has told of how Discover Brean has conducted surveys of its members and claimed some local businesses around the area of the Pontins camp are between 30 per cent to 50 per cent down in revenue “because of the lack of footfall coming from the Pontins site”.
He said: “Brean is the second largest caravan and camping destination in the UK. Millions of pounds of investment over the years in the village has seen the offering in the village expand and thrive. The village provides hundreds of local jobs and is the largest tourism area in the county. The Pontins holiday camp housed some 2,500 to 3,000 holiday guests on a nightly basis and these guests were mainly families on three or four-night breaks, therefore new families with fresh money came to the area twice a week. These guests spent heavily in the local economy in bars, restaurants, shops and tourist attractions.
“The Pontins holiday camp whilst poorly invested in and managed by its owners Britannia Hotels, was contributing a multimillion-pound spend in the local economy. EDF workers are predominantly staying inside the camp and cooking in their selfcatered chalets.
“Those that do venture out are few and far between and are not in keeping with the usual family holiday crowd.
“Whilst some families do visit some of the workers on occasion, this is in minuscule quantities compared to the amount of children that were staying when it was operated as a holiday park.”
However Andrew Cockcroft, head of stakeholder relations at Hinkley Point C, said: “We have 900 workers living at Brean Sands, generating year-round business locally, as well as direct employment all year for the 83 people who help to run the site.
“In addition, around 1,000 family members of our workforce stayed during the summer months and we do all we can to encourage them to visit local attractions and businesses.
“Brean was not alone in experiencing a visitor downturn last summer – thousands of tourism businesses across the south west reported reduced numbers and income. The particularly wet peak months of July and August, combined with the cost-of-living crisis, deterred many families. We continue to work constructively with local businesses and provide funding for local and national marketing campaigns, as well as business support grants.
“Brean Sands has been modernised thanks to our investment in the site, which is in stark contrast to the closures reported elsewhere. The future of the site is now more assured and we will continue to play our part in boosting the regional benefit from hosting the UK’s single biggest contribution to achieving net zero.”
However Mr House maintains the continued use of the site as accommodation for Hinkley Point C workers “demonstrates the multi-million-pound hole in the local economy” and noted visiting holiday guests spend far more locally in tourism businesses than residents.
He added: “EDF state that there is a decline in UK tourism because of the economy – this is simply untrue. More families are opting for cheaper and more frequent UK breaks rather than heading overseas. Furthermore, accommodation providers in the Brean area are seeing increased demand because of the shortage of beds caused by the loss of accommodation at Pontins. However, this still leaves the village 3,000 beds short of the usual in peak times.
“Brean is still very much open for business, other accommodation providers and facilities continue to invest and Brean still provides a great British seaside break or day out.”
The future of the seaside destination near Burnham-on-Sea, which faced complaints about the hygiene of chalets and rundown facilities, has been uncertain for some time. EDF discussed taking over the site with the local community, councillors and business groups in autumn 2022 before announcing it months later.