Bold opening: A once-bustling seaside town has been rendered unrecognizable by the closure of Pontins and the arrival of workers building Britain’s first new nuclear plant in 30 years. And this is where the story gets controversial...
A seaside village in Somerset has effectively been sidelined after Pontins Brean Sands shut its doors and hundreds of construction workers moved in to support the nearby Hinkley Point C project.
Locals recall a much livelier era, saying the area has become a shadow of its former self since EDF Energy brought in 900 workers in 2023 with promises of “millions of pounds of business all year round” during the construction of the £46 billion power station nearby.
Three years later, residents say their financial struggles have worsened and that they feel let down by the energy company.
EDF, for its part, maintains that local benefits will come in the long term, including around 80 new jobs and access to funding for the community and local businesses.
Council leaders say they are actively trying to attract visitors and are monitoring the situation in Brean.
Yet the news that Pontins—the town’s largest holiday park—has become worker lodging has intensified the sense of decline. Weeks earlier, Brean Theme Park, the UK’s largest free-entry park with 40 rides, entered liquidation, marking another setback for the town.
Locals report many workers stay inside the holiday park, where facilities like a bar, pool tables, and a swimming pool are available.
Maria Lewis-Johns, 66, who cleans holiday chalets part-time, describes the change as devastating. “It’s killed us,” she says, noting that the area used to welcome around 3,000 visitors each week and that Pontins’ closure effectively ended the peak in local activity. She fondly recalls evenings at the Queen Vic, a pub within Pontins, and misses the lively atmosphere.
Her friend Kevin Davis, 68, argues the downturn will worsen. He claims the Hinkley Point workers are here to earn money rather than spend it locally, with EDF extending their stay only deepening uncertainty about what will remain once they depart. He says the promised boost to the local economy never materialized and points out that workers arrive by coach and car but don’t translate into sustained local spending.
The Pontins site had been slated to reopen to the public after a refurbishment, but the timeline shifted as Hinkley Point C’s operation could be delayed until 2031, leaving questions about how long workers will stay.
On a recent visit, our reporter observed that around 60 small businesses were largely shuttered and that tourism at the windswept seafront was sparse for the season. Traditional arcades and fairgrounds reported little interest from Hinkley Point workers, and even bars and eateries have since closed.
A spokesperson for Hinkley Point C expressed sympathy for the challenges facing tourism businesses in the south-west and said the project would support staff facing redundancy via its Jobs Service. EDF highlighted more than £2 million invested in Brean Sands, the creation of 80 year-round jobs in the community, and funds to support local businesses and community groups.
EDF Energy notes that it invested heavily in Pontins—spending £2 million to upgrade the facilities before workers moved in—and Andrew Cockcroft, head of stakeholder relations for Hinkley Point C, emphasized expected long-term benefits for Brean. He cited the £2 million upgrade as paving the way for a viable future and 83 year-round jobs in the community, along with marketing support and business grants to assist affected businesses. He also mentioned access to the Hinkley Point C community fund, already supporting local organisations and charities.
Inside the Quick Bite Café, one of the few remain-open establishments, staff painted a more sobering picture. Becca Bond, a 20-year employee, notes winter trade is challenging and that Pontins’ closure precipitated a dramatic drop in business. While summer remains busy, the rest of the year requires careful management. She adds that Hinkley Point workers do not frequent the town in the numbers promised.
Somerset Council says investment is coming to the area to boost visitor numbers, pointing to a £15 million upgrade and transformation of Unity Holiday Park and to the Hinkley Point C £20 million community fund benefiting the local community. The council emphasizes ongoing discussions with Brean businesses and EDF to assess the direct impacts of continuing Pontins as worker accommodation and to address broader tourism sector pressures. The site, privately owned, is leased to the Hinkley project and will be returned to its owner at the lease’s end.
In summary: the town’s fortunes are tied to the Hinkley Point C project, Pontins’ fate, and broader tourism trends. While officials promise long-term benefits and ongoing support, residents see immediate hardships and question whether the anticipated economic boost will arrive in time to save Brean’s local businesses.
Thought-provoking closing questions: Do you think large-scale energy projects like Hinkley Point C should guarantee more concrete, near-term economic benefits to nearby communities, or is patience and long-term planning the prudent path? Are dependent towns sufficiently protected against the volatility of tourism and industrial investment? Share your perspective below.
