A ONCE popular and booming seaside holiday resort is now a deserted “ghost town” – with an amazing secret.
The Pontins Holiday Park in Brean, Somerset, was once a thriving hot spot for families from all over the UK but is now shutting up shop to house 900 staff from Hinkley Point C nuclear plant for three years.
While tourism to the town may have collapsed it’s not quite dead and regular holidaymakers to the area have revealed there is a hidden gem – a little-known idyllic beach.
Julie Quinlan, 59, and her retired partner Ian Merchant, 68, have a static caravan there and come with their two dogs, Arthur and Merlin.
They said that Brean is “always quiet” and they love walking up near Brean Down, as cars aren’t allowed to park on the beach and there are very few visitors anyway.
Julie told The Mirror: "We love the wildlife and stargazing at night. This panoramic view is beautiful. When the sun rises here, you could be anywhere in the world.”
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The peace and quiet though is embraced by many day trippers who say the peninsula and coastal walk as a “hidden gem”.
A National Trust volunteer who wanted to remain anonymous told the paper: "It's a beautiful place, I just love the Brean Down.
“There's some lovely walks in the countryside and all the people get on so well.
"There is so much history in the area that people don't know about. But I'll be honest, the thing that spoils it most is the people up that end that visit.
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"I just cannot believe the attitude of people who come down here and have BBQs on the beach and leave everything behind."
It seems that Brean is almost split in two – the main strip where Pontins is and the other more peaceful end.
Cyclist Paul Young, 51, said: "There is two parts to Brean, though they blend into each other along the beach."
Situated eight miles from Weston-super-Mare, empty bars and derelict shops give the impression of a resort that has seen better days – the only shops that remain open in the winter months are the Post Office and a general store.
Pontins isn’t the only holiday park in Brean but it’s the largest and best known so its closure will make a dent in the profits of local businesses.
Former publican Gary Reid, 61, from Brean, summed up the feeling of many living in the area.
He previously told The Sun: “It has the feel of a one-horse town where even the horse has left. At this time of year it’s never very busy but we are fearful for the coming season.
“Pontins had a weekly turnover of 3000 people coming into the resort and although there are many caravan sites around the loss of so many visitors and there spending power will be huge.”
Dan Dare, 57, a former motorbike stunt rider, from Weston-super-Mare, said: “Whenever I ride into Brean The Specials song ‘Ghost Town’ always comes into my head.
“I think that the loss of so many tourists will have a massive effect on small shop keepers in the area.
“All these construction workers aren’t going to be buying buckets and spades or rubber rings for the beach.
“So the profits of these small shops are really going to be hit hard I think.
“Things might get a bit busier when the 'Brummie Navy’ head to the coast. They come down in their hundreds from Birmingham because this is the closest seaside resort to the city."
Visitors Tony and Jackie Edwards from Evesham love coming to Brean for the very fact that it is quiet.
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Jackie, 65, said: “It’s not busy and that’s the way we like it – it is our special place. Somewhere we can walk our dog Jackie and know we won’t come across many people.
“It does lack atmosphere at this time of year when the holidaymakers aren’t here and I’m sure it’s a struggle for businesses around here.”
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