East Lindsey District Council moves to limit use of coastal hotels for asylum seekers
It's formally submitted a pre-action letter to the Home Office
Last updated 5th Jan 2023
Legal action is being threatened to try and limit the use of hotels on the Lincolnshire coast to house asylum seekers.
It's after five in Skegness and one near Boston are being used.
East Lindsey District Council has written to the Home Office saying they may seek a judicial review to prevent the Government from continuing to "promote" what they describe as the unlawful use of hotels in Skegness as hostels for asylum seekers.
They argue the Home Office has breached controls and their actions mean a change of use which requires planning permission.
They say they've sought assurances from ministers they won't do something similar again but they haven't been forthcoming.
They say legal action may now be needed to prevent "further harm".
Cllr Craig Leyland, Leader of East Lindsey District Council, said: “Skegness is the fourth most visited coastal resort in the UK. It depends on maintaining a thriving tourism economy driven by holidaymakers and people who choose to holiday in the town and on day trippers.
“The unlawful use of hotels as hostels, which goes against planning policy, is depleting the supply of accommodation on offer for tourists and this use is not helping our reputation as a family holiday resort which is a vital part of the local economy.
“We understand the national pressures faced by the Home Office in finding suitable accommodation for those seeking asylum in the UK but we call for a halt to the procurement of any more hotels in Skegness and wider East Lindsey.
“This pre-action letter indicates the Council’s intentions to seek a Judicial Review if the Home Office will not agree to stop purchasing more hotels for hostel use unless it is authorised by the grant of planning permission.”
Matt Warman, MP for Boston and Skegness, said:
“I have repeatedly urged the Prime Minister, the Home Secretary and the Immigration Minister to end the use of tourist hotels in Skegness to accommodate people seeking asylum. As I said recently at a public meeting in Skegness, it is unacceptable and wholly inappropriate.
"I have been clear throughout on my three ‘asks’ of Government – deter people from making journeys across the channel in the first place, process people more quickly and look at alternative forms of accommodation to the inappropriate use of hotels needed for tourism.
"Britain is an immensely compassionate country but we need to address the issue of asylum seekers coming in such numbers. It’s right that we’re now working more closely with France to stop people making perilous voyages. It’s right that we are imposing tougher penalties for the criminal people smugglers who exploit the vulnerable, including life imprisonment. It’s right that we have done a new deal with Albania to make sure we return those from that country who do not qualify as rapidly as possible.
"I will continue to press the point that these hotels are needed to support our local tourism economy and offer my full support to ELDC in bringing this legal challenge.”
The Secretary of State will now have time to consider East Lindsey District Council’s letter which calls for the Home Office to engage with the Council to agree a resolution as an alternative to a claim for Judicial Review.
A Home Office spokesperson said:
“The number of people arriving in the UK who seek asylum and require accommodation has reached record levels, placing unprecedented pressures on the asylum system.
“The Home Office and partners identify sites for accommodation based on whether they are safe and available.
“While we accept that hotels do not provide a long-term solution, they do offer safe, secure and clean accommodation, and we are working hard with local authorities to find appropriate accommodation during this challenging time.”