A seaside town has effectively been silenced after Pontins shut its doors and workers moved in to help build Britain’s first new nuclear plant in three decades. Locals say the once-bustling Somerset resort now feels like a shadow of its former self as hundreds of construction staff settled into the closed Pontins Brean Sands site.
When 900 EDF Energy workers arrived in 2023, residents were promised “millions of pounds of business all year round” during the construction of the £46 billion Hinkley Point C power station nearby.
Three years on, locals describe their finances as worse than ever and feel let down by the energy giant. EDF acknowledges there will be long-term benefits for the area, including 80 new jobs and access to funding for local communities and businesses.
Council leaders say they are actively trying to attract visitors and are monitoring the town’s situation. Yet with Pontins now housing the largest holiday park in Brean, many locals claim conditions have deteriorated further.
Recently, Brean Theme Park—the UK’s largest free-entry park of its kind, with 40 rides—entered liquidation, adding another blow to a town already struggling.
Some residents say many staff prefer to stay inside the holiday camp, where amenities like a bar, pool tables, and a swimming pool are available.
Maria Lewis-Johns, 66, who cleans holiday chalets part-time, described the change as devastating. “It’s killed us,” she said. “There used to be about three thousand visitors weekly, but now it’s a ghost town. Pontins’ closure wrecked the vibe I grew up with.” She recalled fond evenings at the Queen Vic tavern inside Pontins and missing those easier, livelier days.
Her friend Kevin Davis, 68, fears the downturn may deepen. “Pontins’ closure started the rot,” he asserted. “The Hinkley Point workers aren’t spending enough to help the town; they’re here to earn money, not to boost the local economy. EDF keeps extending how long they’ll stay, and it’s hard to see what will be left when they finally go.”
The park was slated to reopen next year after a refurbishment, but with Hinkley Point C unlikely to be operational until as late as 2031, it’s unclear how long the workers will remain.
A reporter touring the village found about 60 small businesses largely shuttered, with few tourists on the windswept seafront. Traditional arcades, fairgrounds, bars, and takeaways have all closed or reduced hours.
Hinkley Point C’s spokesperson expressed sympathy for the tourism businesses and noted that the project supports redundancies through its Jobs Service. The utility also highlighted substantial local investment, stating EDF has spent more than £2 million on Brean Sands, created 80 year-round jobs, and funded community and business initiatives.
EDF Energy argues the long-term effects will be positive. Andrew Cockcroft, head of stakeholder relations at Hinkley Point C, emphasized the project’s ongoing investment and claimed Brean will gain a stable future, with 83 year-round jobs in the community. He noted that workers will contribute to the local economy beyond peak tourist seasons and that marketing support and business grants will help affected enterprises. He also highlighted access to the Hinkley Point C community fund for local organizations and charities.
But at Quick Bite Café, one of the few remaining open businesses, winter trade remains tough. Becca Bond, a 20-year employee, said the town’s winter lull is hard to endure, and Pontins’ closure dramatically reduced foot traffic. “Hinkley Point workers don’t come in as often as promised,” she commented, though some summer footfall remains.
Somerset Council says the area has seen investments intended to boost visitors, including a £15 million upgrade and transformation of Unity Holiday Park. They note that the Hinkley Point C £20 million community fund benefits locals, and during summer, workers’ families often use Brean’s accommodations.
The council states it is coordinating with Brean businesses and EDF to assess the ongoing impact of using the Pontins site as worker housing alongside broader tourism factors. The site is privately owned and leased to the Hinkley Point C project and will be returned to the owner when the lease ends.
Controversy and questions linger: is the long-term economic plan for Brean robust, or is the town paying too high a price for a short-term influx of workers? As debates continue, residents and business owners are left weighing EDF and Hinkley Point C’s promises against the current reality on the ground, and visitors are left wondering whether Brean’s future will finally recover—or remain stuck in the past.”}
