An abandoned Pontins site in Southport could be left dormant for more than a century and the council can do nothing about it due to a long-running contract signed with Britannia Hotels
An abandoned Pontins site could be left that way for over a century.
Pontins in Ainsdale, Southport, may be left dormant for 130 years according to planning contracts signed by Sefton Council and Britannia Hotels, the latter of which has a long-running leasehold on the now-closed site. Pontins in Southport closed its doors in January this year and remains under control of Britannia Hotels.
Contracts signed on the leasehold of the property mean Pontins’ dormant site could remain there for 130 years, with a 150 year lease initially signed. The council has no say in what is done with the land and it is now completely up to Britannia Hotels what is done with the location for the next century.
When approached for comment on the future of the site, the council confirmed the company would only have to notify the local authority if there were any intended changes to the site or if there was termination of the contract, the Liverpool Echo reported.
Butlin’s owner John Hendry Pickup previously linked himself as a potential buyer for the site and spoke in April on the potential purchase. He said: “We would definitely still be interested. We would definitely like a conversation with them. It is an existing site so there is no need to dig up the countryside.”
A spokesman for the company told the ECHO there was no update on plans to take control of the site. Currently there is very little left on the premises, with a derelict park looking run down with the eerily empty location shuttered in January this year. Britannia Hotels confirmed it was closing the Pontins location.
In a statement on the closure of the location, Pontins said they were “assessing the future viability of the park”. Staff claimed they were sacked by text just hours before the announcement was made.