Workers from Southport’s second largest employer have held a rally and march in Southport town centre, calling for 1,500 jobs to be saved.
The rally on Saturday (31st October 2026) was led by the PCS Union which is campaigning for the Smedley Hydro General Register Office and the HM Passport Office on Trafalgar Road in Birkdale to remain open.
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Supporters gathered on Chapel Street before marching along Lord Street as they appealed for support from local people.
Speaking at the rally in Southport, Natasha Ayres from the PCS Union said:
“We are here today because we care about Southport, we care about our community, and protecting good jobs for local people.
“At the heart of the campaign is Smedley Hydro, one of Southport’s largest employers and a workplace that’s been part of our town for generations.
“Every day workers at Smedley deliver vital public services at the General Register Office and the HM Passport Office.
“These dedicated staff help people across the country and today they need our support.
“Because these are not just jobs – they put food on their table for families, help pay mortgages and rents. And support local cafes, shops and restaurants within our town.
“Yet these proposals could see these workers moved away from Southport.
“If that happens, the consequences will be felt far beyond the walls of Smedley.
“It will put hundreds of risk. It will weaken our local economy. It will hurt businesses that rely on the spending power of the workers. And it will affect families across the community.
“For many staff, relocation is not an option. They have childcare responsibilities, caring commitments, and deep roots in the town.
“They should not be forced to choose between their family life and their livelihood.
“The message from PCS members is clear. A recent survey found that 9 out of 10 staff want this work to remain in Southport.”
Also speaking at the event was Steph Price from the PCS Union. She said:
“We are calling on Ministers and senior leaders to come to Southpoort and visit Smedley Hydro, meet the workforce, and hear directly from the people who will be affected by these decisions.
“We intend to take our PCS Smedley Hydro campaign petition to 10 Downing Street with the aim of ensuring Ministers and the Prime Minister understand the effects that closing Smedley Hydro and moving that large workforce to a different town will have on our community in Southport.
“Not only will it stop young people coming to the town and finding employment and skilled work, it will also have a devastating and ongoing impact on the local economy.
“Once these jobs are lost to our local area, we will not get them back.
“Please support our campaign, and sign our petition, so we can go to 10 Downing Street and reinforce the need to the Home Office for Southport jobs to remain.”
The campaign has received strong support from local councillors, MPs, PCS members and the wider community.
PCS members say 98% of those surveyed want the jobs to remain in Southport and warn that relocation could have a significant impact on staff, particularly those with disabilities, health conditions and caring responsibilities. Increased travel times and costs could make it impossible for some employees to remain in their roles.
The union is also questioning the case for closing the site, pointing to Smedley Hydro’s accessibility, condition and previous investment, as well as the potential costs of relocation and the loss of specialist knowledge and experience.
PCS general secretary, Fran Heathcote said:
“Southport has already lost too many vital public services and good, secure jobs. Our community should not have to stand by and watch as the Government considers moving jobs out of the town without properly considering the people who depend on these services, or the staff whose lives and futures will be turned upside down.
“Smedley Hydro has a skilled, dedicated workforce delivering a unique national service. These are not just jobs on a spreadsheet, they are people’s livelihoods, careers and communities. They matter to the staff who do them, to the Home Office and to the future of Southport.”
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