Staff at the closure threatened Smedley Hydro in Birkdale have shared their concerns with Southport MP Patrick Hurley ahead of a meeting with Government ministers on the matter.
During a visit organised by the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) Union, Mr Hurley spoke directly with employees about the uncertainty surrounding the potential closure of the site and the impact any relocation could have on their jobs, families and day-to-day lives.
Smedley Hydro, on Trafalgar Road in Birkdale in Southport, houses staff from the General Register Office, HM Passport Office, the Home Office and NHS Digital, making it one of the largest employers in the Southport area.
Employees also questioned the practicalities of moving specialist services currently based at Smedley Hydro, including the relocation of specialist machinery and equipment and the secure handling of records and documents.
Patrick Hurley will now take the concerns raised by staff into his forthcoming discussions with the Government as he continues to make the case for retaining the site and its skilled workforce in Southport.
He has previously written to Paymaster General Nick Thomas-Symonds MP and has continued to engage with the Government, PCS Union, local stakeholders and workers over the future of Smedley Hydro.
The PCS Union will hold a rally in Birkdale Village on Sunday 6th September 2026 from 11am to raise awareness of the situation and seek support from the local community.
Patrick Hurley, MP for Southport and the Northern Parishes, said:
“Speaking to staff at Smedley Hydro really brought home the uncertainty this is creating for people. I have heard from employees who chose to work in Southport to be closer to their families, from people with caring responsibilities, and from disabled staff who are understandably worried about what a relocation could mean for them.
“These skilled jobs matter enormously to Southport, and there are also serious practical questions about moving specialist equipment, services and secure records from a site that has supported this work for several decades.
“I will take what staff have told me into my discussions with Government and continue putting the strongest possible case forward for Smedley Hydro and the jobs based there.”
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