Planned relocation of 80 asylum seekers to a coastal hotel, with only 15 hours’ warning to local authorities, sparked outrage among locals.
Asylum bosses provoked anger with plans to move 80 migrants to a seaside hotel – giving local officials just 15 hours’ notice. Migrants are seen arriving in Dover last month
The housing head in Morecambe, Lancashire, informed the Home Office in a strongly worded memo that support services were “already stretched” owing to the usage of two other hotels to host 221 asylum seekers.
The council official warned of “ongoing, unsolved safety and cohesion difficulties” and said that more arrivals may lead to “conflict” in the region.
Planned relocation of 80 asylum seekers to a coastal hotel, with only 15 hours’ warning to local authorities, sparked outrage among locals. Last month, migrants were observed landing at Dover.
The ideas were disclosed to town hall officials at 4 p.m. on Friday and to the local representative at 7 a.m. on Saturday, with the migrants scheduled to begin arriving at 9 a.m. on Saturday.
Last night Tory MP David Morris (pictured) said that after talks yesterday afternoon, the Home Office has agreed to use the hotel as a ‘temporary measure’ limited to three weeks
In an email sent on Friday evening, Jo Wilkinson, the head of housing for the Lancaster City Council, expressed her displeasure at not having had at least 24 hours’ warning.
Miss Wilkinson said, “Community cohesiveness has become a big issue in the district due to the use of two emergency motels.” If this third hotel is built, there will be dispute at one of the locations and within the larger community.
Last night, Tory MP David Morris (pictured) said that the Home Office had agreed to use the hotel as a “temporary remedy” for a period of three weeks, following discussions yesterday afternoon.
‘A list of incidents, including a protest/demonstration, sexual offences, assaults, multiple alleged racially motivated assaults of asylum seekers, (and) a huge negative social media presence surrounding both current hotel sites, including one involving the alleged attempted rape of a woman by an asylum seeker, has previously been shared with Home Office colleagues.’
David Morris, Conservative Member of Parliament for Morecambe and Lunesdale, stated, “We are hardly an unwelcoming region, as we have accepted more refugees and asylum seekers than the whole of Lancashire.” However, sufficient time must be allotted for the installation of services and infrastructure.
After discussions yesterday afternoon, the Home Office has agreed to use the hotel for three weeks as a “temporary remedy,” he announced last night.
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