Businesses Report Struggles One Year After Holiday Park Closure

Businesses in a coastal village are reporting difficulties in remaining viable twelve months after the abrupt shutdown of a holiday park that drew 80,000 visitors each year. The Pontins holiday park, situated in Camber Sands, East Sussex, ceased operations unexpectedly in December 2023 and has remained vacant for a year. Rother District Council, the proprietor of the location, stated that Britannia Hotels, the owner of Pontins, possesses an extended lease agreement, which restricts the council’s authority to intervene. Britannia Hotels was contacted for a statement. A meeting involving Britannia Hotels, the council, and local Member of Parliament Helena Dollimore is scheduled for later this month. Palanisamy “Raj” Thurairaja acquired the Premier convenience store on Lydd Road two years prior, citing its proximity to the holiday park as a key reason. He reported investing capital into expanding and renovating the establishment, but asserted that since the closure of Pontins, his revenue has decreased by nearly £300,000 this year. “It’s very quiet, and the business is struggling,” he stated. He added, “I can cope with that for one year, but not if it keeps going on. We need some certainty about what will happen.” The Nisa convenience store located across the street ceased operations in September. Sarah Broadbent, who serves as vice chair of the Rye and District Chamber of Commerce, commented: “You can’t have a site the size that Pontins is, that could accommodate about 3,000 guests at a time, suddenly close and it not have an impact on the small businesses around the village.” She further elaborated: “Some would have argued that most guests would have stayed on the site and kept their spending there, but when they ventured out to buy an ice cream, a cup of coffee, or a pint of beer, those numbers really start to stack up.” Rother District Council indicated it is engaging with Britannia Hotels to explore future options for the property. A spokesperson stated: “While the district council is the freeholder of the site, Britannia Hotels has a long-term lease with over 100 years left to run, and as a result, the district council has very limited powers to control or influence what happens to the site.” The council announced its plan to establish a new Camber Sands Welcome Centre, aiming to offer enhanced amenities and local details to visitors, thereby supporting local businesses. Helena Dollimore, the Labour and Co-operative Member of Parliament for Hastings & Rye, commented that the Camber community has been left “in limbo” due to the site being “left lying deserted.” She further noted that it was “no secret” the location had been “left dilapidated for many years” and that “many repairs have not been done.” She reported that following her meeting with Britannia Hotels in November, an agreement was reached for a subsequent meeting with the council later in December, with the aim of advancing the situation.