'Strong concerns' over plans to use another hotel for asylum seekers
The Talbot Hotel in Leominster could be used to try and ease pressure on the system
Home Office plans to take over another Herefordshire hotel to house asylum seekers have been met with resistance from locals.
North Hereford Conservative MP Sir Bill Wiggin has said Leominster doesn’t have the right infrastructure in place to support asylum seekers at the town’s Talbot Hotel.
The town centre hotel is currently closed, but could be used to house those arriving in the UK to claim asylum – with the Home Office admitting the system is currently under “incredible strain” with a record number of arrivals.
While no decision has yet been made, Sir Bill said: “I have also spoken to the Minister for Immigration and the council to voice my strong concerns.
"I am not confident that Leominster has the infrastructure or the sort of accommodation that we would need and expect for housing asylum seekers.
"Leominster does not have the social service provision and quality of infrastructure that can be found in larger cities.
“Whatever you feel about these people, we need to make sure that the Home Office do not make matters worse in our communities."
Herefordshire Council said it had told the Home Office it is “very aware” of the pressure on the system of asylum seekers and outlining the county’s “significant track record in recent years” of playing its part in government migration schemes.
“However, we have a number of concerns which we outlined in our response to the Home Office and will do so again when we meet with them and the regional Strategic Migration Partnership and local partner organisations later this week,” a spokesperson added.
It’s understood meetings are taking part between the Home Office, council and other agencies.
Earlier this year, Herefordshire Council said the Home Office didn’t have plans to take over any other hotels in the county after the Three Counties Hotel in Hereford.
The Home Office declined to comment on the apparent u-turn.
The Fownes Hotel is also being used to house asylum seekers in Worcester.