Comment from Damien Moore, MP for Southport, on the potential use of Pontins to house asylum seekers

IN a press release sent to the media by Southport's Conservative MP, Damien Moore, in connection to the potential use of Pontins to house asylum seekers, he told us he was:- "deeply worried by the rumours."

This is the full statement that was given to us in connection to these rumours:- "IT isn't appropriate to house asylum seekers in Southport, and I'm deeply worried by the rumours that I have seen in the press that Pontins may be a potential location. We are a Town in which over 40% of our economy is built on tourism and hospitality, which we should be doing all we can to strengthen. It is not in the interests of the residents of Ainsdale or the wider Southport population to use Pontins as a processing centre for asylum seekers when other options are yet to be fully explored. I strongly believe that for housing asylum seekers we should 1st look to other sites on the Government owned estate; office buildings, disused Ministry of Defence sites, and of course the Nightingale hospitals which were stood up in the Pandemic, weren't used, and could be stood up again for emergency asylum accommodation. At these types of sites, arrivals can be better supervised and more efficiently processed, in a way I think most people in the country would find to be fairer than using holiday parks. Ultimately, we need to accelerate the Government's plans to remove all those who enter the UK illegally, and to break these illegal and immoral networks of people smugglers, who wilfully gamble with people's lives for the sake of profit. I'm continuing to speak with the Government and with the Prime Minister's team, and I was reassured to hear the Prime Minister say in Parliament on Tuesday that they are looking at:- 'disusedholiday parks,' which of course would not include Pontins. I will continue to do all I can to stand up for my constituents in Southport."

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Pleasureland CEO Norman Wallis helps save Southport Rowing Club
Photo by Nick Shore.

1 of the architects of the renaissance of Liverpool's 'playground,' Southport, has stepped in to save a 60+ year old historic rowing club. Pleasureland CEO Norman Wallis met with Southport Rowing Club after learning the organisation had been left homeless and with nowhere to safely store its boats. The club serves between 25 and 30 members, who row the Town's Marine Lake twice weekly, but has been struggling to find alternative accommodation lakeside.

Mr Wallis was quick to offer secure storage rather than see an important sport and leisure amenity defeated. He went further and offered the space as a good will gesture. He said:- "The club is an asset for the Town and there is growing interest in expanding its remit; giving young people the opportunity to learn and enjoy a unique and rewarding skill. The park was happy to help."

Club Chairman, Andy O'Shea, said:- "If it wasn't for Norman Wallis, we wouldn't be rowing now and we wouldn't have a club. He was kind enough to waive any fee, so instead members contribute to make donations to the charities he supports. Southport Rowing Club is more that 60 years old and the men and women who row there have been based at the Marine Lake for the last 40."

Supported by the sport's governing body, British Rowing, the Southport body is still searching for somewhere to serve as a permanent clubhouse with storage.

Mr O'Shea and other club committee members have met with a number of interested educational organisations who would like to add rowing to their curriculum. He said rowers' representatives had also met with Sefton Council and the Town's MP. "We were hoping Sefton Council, which owns all land around the lake and manages leases, would consider supporting this popular club, which is attracting growing interest, by making long term space available; and ensure its future."