Tourism bosses say EDF 'failing' them over Pontins

A senior figure in Somerset's tourism sector has attacked what he called EDF Energy's "continuing failure" to mitigate the use of a holiday camp by Hinkley Point C workers.

The Pontins Brean Sands holiday camp has been used to house about 900 people working at the nuclear power station construction site since 2022.

EDF pledged to deliver mitigation funding to offset the park's closure, including the economic impact on local businesses. It said £2m had already been invested in the site.

Alan House, chairman of Discover Brean, told Somerset Council: "I am asking the executive to intervene in the continuing failure to resolve tourism mitigation arising from EDF's use of Pontins Brean Sands."

The council said it was concerned about EDF's "lack of urgency", but added many of the issues surrounding the site were outside of its control.

The council signed a legal agreement for EDF's use of the site in March 2023.

Under these legal agreement, the energy company and the council had to "discuss additional measures" of mitigation if the holiday park remained occupied after December 2025.

House asked Somerset Council on Wednesday during a council meeting to force EDF to provide details of this mitigation as soon as possible, or trigger legal action against them.

EDF has provided interim funding for advertising and free beach parking – but House said this was not enough to "provide the certainty needed to plan Brean's tourism recovery".

Councillor Mike Rigby, portfolio holder for economic development, planning and assets, said: "Should officers conclude that further discussions are unlikely to achieve a resolution, we will consider all options available to us under the agreement, including the independent expert provisions."

EDF Energy has stated on its official website that £2m has already been invested in the Brean Sands site which would it "in a better condition for future holiday use".

A spokesperson added: "We accept that some businesses could be affected by our use of the holiday park during the summer season.

"To help, we have stepped in with business support grants and we're funding marketing campaigns to bring new visitors to the area.

"Our use of Pontins bring benefits to the local economy for 12 months a year, beyond the current few months of the holiday season."

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