No, Pontins is not being used to house asylum seekers
Once again, misinformation is being deliberately spread online
Hello and welcome to the midweek edition of The Southport Lead
It’s been another depressing week for those of us concerned by the constant spreading of conspiracy theories on social media. In national news, the source of an arson attack on the Prime Minister’s home was reported by the BBC to be a Russian diplomat, with the incident running alongside a complex social media operation.
Despite this, you’ll find no shortage of people on X - or even Southport Facebook groups - who are far more convinced of baseless rumours to which they are content to apply zero critical thinking or questioning.
Back here in Southport, it’s been another week in which false rumours about Pontins being used for thousands of asylum seekers have been spread and successfully convinced a lot of people to believe a load of rubbish. That is the focus of today’s newsletter.
Southport briefing
🚓 Drugs and cash were seized and two men arrested as police carried out early morning raids last Friday. Cocaine and more than £2,500 were seized from a house in Southport, with a 34-year-old man arrested on suspicion of possession of a Class A drug and possession of criminal property. In Birkdale, a 39-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon when a knuckleduster was found. Merseyside Police said the warrants build on recent disruption activity carried out by the County Lines Task Force and Southport Town Centre teams and that enforcement activity over the past few weeks has resulted in 19 arrests, the seizure of significant quantities of drugs including cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, ecstasy and magic mushrooms. A total of £11,000 cash has also been taken off the streets. Sefton Area Commander Karl Baldwin said: “This latest arrest follows ongoing disruption work by dedicated teams committed to protecting communities and reducing the harm caused by drugs in Southport. Our message is clear – we will not tolerate this criminal activity. We will continue to pursue those responsible while safeguarding our communities.”
🎖️ A surgeon who played a key role in helping children injured in the Southport Attack has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to children and young people. Vittoria Bucknall, a consultant trauma and orthopaedic surgeon at Alder Hey Children Hospital, is said to have been crucial to the survival of several children and was nominated by a parent of one of those who she treated. That child had been airlifted to Alder Hey with more than 30 stab wounds and a life-threatening bleed and needed two six-hour surgeries led by Vittoria and her team.
🍽️ A much-loved Churchtown restaurant will close its doors for the final time this weekend after more than 12 years. Owners Rob and Dan Smallman cited ‘the challenges of the current climate’ as they announced this week that La Tabella will open for the last time on Sunday. They said: “To all of our customers, thank you for your loyalty, support and memories over the years. We are truly grateful to everyone who has been part of our journey.”
False Pontins rumours spread by accounts monetising Facebook hate
By Jamie Lopez
False rumours that the former Pontins site is being used to house asylum seekers are being spread by accounts monetising anti-immigration misinformation.
The holiday park closed its doors in January 2024 and has largely been out of use ever since. The land it sits on is owned by Sefton Council but Pontins’ owner Britannia Hotels has a long-term lease on the site and has shown no willingness to give that up.
As previously reported by The Southport Lead, Sefton Council wants to see the site demolished to make way for an improved and modernised facility as part of its wider plans for the Ainsdale Beach gateway while Britannia says it is drawing up its own idea on how to redevelop and reopen the attraction.
Meanwhile, the site’s current use is limited to occasional activity for police units training their dogs.
Despite the lack of activity on-site, it has become commonplace for misinformation to spread online claiming it is being used as accommodation for asylum seekers, with the claims leapt on and shared by right-wing pages.
One such occasion occurred last year when a large group of Asian people were visited walking onto the beach and while they were there to collect samphire - a a sea vegetable that grows on shorelines and salty mudflats and can often be found along the Sefton coast - huge engagement was claimed by posters claiming they were staying at Pontins.
This week saw an old video resurface and presented as new to repeat false claims about Pontins being used as asylum housing. The video, which was shared widely among pages and groups who encourage others to question what the read in the media, used the presence of a small group of workers on site who said they had no knowledge of future plans as definitive evidence that 3,000 people would soon be moved in.
Among the most prominent to share the old video as being both new and truthful was an account called Bad Boy Explores which allows people to subscribe for £2.79 a month. The page’s creator explained he had visited the empty site 10 months ago before stating that the old video was new.
