Viral Pontins Video Sparks Concern as Council and Britannia Issue Direct Responses

A video currently circulating across social media is generating significant concern, speculation and debate, with many local residents contacting us after claims were made that the former Pontins site in Ainsdale is being prepared to accommodate more than 3,000 asylum seekers or immigrants.

The video has been viewed thousands of times and shared widely, leading to growing public concern and a large number of enquiries asking what is happening at the site.

The video below has been widely shared on social media and has generated significant public concern. The claims made within the video have been challenged by both Sefton Council and Britannia Hotels, whose full responses are included below.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/fc350e_8792bf6cb0634ba491e323993429dea2/file

Formby Bubble is publishing this video because it is already widely circulating and has become a matter of public interest. Publication does not imply endorsement of the claims made within it.

In response, we contacted Sefton Council directly for clarification.

A spokesperson from Sefton Council told us: “We are aware of repeated allegations regarding that site, especially around erroneous claims centred on the housing of asylum seekers.”

“No is the short answer. It is not.”

“The site remains under the lease of Britannia hotels so you would need to speak to them for a comment about what these works are. I know in recent times the site has been used for training of police dogs and other passing matters.”

“You may also wish to know that the temporary housing of asylum seekers across the UK is led by the Home Office, not the local council wherever that may be.”

Following the council’s response, we also approached Britannia Hotels Group, which still holds the lease on the site.

A spokesperson for Britannia Hotels Group said: “Following their closure, we have been undertaking a series of surveys and land assessments for our three vacant Pontins sites to determine what future uses may be viable.”

“As part of this process, we have appointed a planning consultancy to develop pre-planning applications for consideration by the respective local authorities. These proposals include the potential demolition of the aged chalets and options for their replacement, reflecting evolving guest expectations and the long-term sustainability of the sites.”

“In the meantime, as a gesture of goodwill, we have made all sites available to local emergency services, who have been using them for training exercises while they remain unoccupied.”

“Our priority is to secure positive long-term outcomes for all sites and we will provide further updates as our plans progress.”

The statements from both Sefton Council and Britannia Hotels directly contradict the claims being made in the viral video.

Given the level of concern being expressed online, we felt it was important to contact the organisations involved and publish their responses in full so residents can see exactly what has been said.

As always, if any official plans are submitted through the planning process, they will become public documents and we will report on them.