Supporting Local Tourism - Free Beach Parking at Brean and Berrow this Summer
Hinkley Point C is helping to make a trip to the seaside a little more affordable this summer by providing free parking at both Brean and Berrow beach car parks. Available throughout the school holidays and into October, the initiative is part of Hinkley Point C’s support for tourism businesses in Brean. The initiative has already proved extremely successful with visitors to the beach more than double the number seen in July last year.
Andrew Cockcroft is responsible for ensuring that Hinkley Point C continues to work collaboratively with external partners to maximise the social and economic impact of Hinkley Point C. With an academic background in sustainability and energy policy, Andrew has been part of the Hinkley Point C project for over a decade – initially working as part of the team developing the planning application that provided the go-ahead for the first new nuclear power station in a generation.
Despite the long hot summer so far, tourism across the South West is still facing challenges, including the increased expense of doing business and the cost-of-living crisis hitting holidaymakers’ spending habits1.
Following the closure of almost all of the Pontins holiday parks across the country, Hinkley Point C is using the former site in Brean for worker accommodation and has already invested £2 million in renovations and upgrades, creating 80 year-round jobs. This latest initiative to support the local economy will help to attract more day-trippers to the area who can enjoy the one of Somerset’s best beaches and visit local attractions such as Brean Theme Park.
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Why is Hinkley Point C supporting tourism in Brean?
Following the closure of almost all of the Pontins holiday parks across the country, Hinkley Point C is using the former site in Brean for worker accommodation. Across all of our local communities experiencing change as a result of the project, we are committed to minimising impact and maximising local benefit. We have already invested £2 million in renovations and upgrades, creating 80 year-round jobs and will continue to support local tourism initiatives.
How will free beach parking help local tourism?
At a time when people are feeling the pressures of the continued cost of living crisis, free parking will help make a trip a little more affordable - helping to attract more day-trippers to the area who can enjoy the one of Somerset’s best beaches and visit local attractions. The initiative has already proved extremely successful with visitors to the beach more than double the number seen in July last year.
How long will free parking be available?
Free parking will be available throughout the summer holiday period and end in October.
Why are you using the Brean Sands campus?
As the workforce at Hinkley Point C increased, the Brean Sands Holiday Park was the only available site in the local area with the capacity and facilities to accommodate members of the workforce during peak construction. With the park set to close like other Pontins site's across the country, a temporary use has helped secure its future and reduced the need for the workforce to rent houses in the local area which in turn limits impacts on the local housing market.
Hinkley Point C’s £2 million investment to refurbish and upgrade the site will leave it in better condition for future holiday use. Its chalet accommodation means workers can bring their families to stay and make use of the beach and local leisure attractions – a great morale booster for people working away from home
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