Barge deal condemned by Dorset councillors
Councillors from all political groups were opposed to the agreement to house 500 asylum seekers in a barge at Portland Port
Last updated 14th Jul 2023
The deal between Portland Port and the Home Office which will see 500 asylum seekers housed in a barge has been roundly condemned by Dorset councillors.
One, Weymouth councillor Louie O’Leary, described it as “a Devil’s deal” and said the Port company would regret the day it was agreed, claiming that many local people now hold the business in utter contempt.
An hour long debate, ending shortly after 10pm on Thursday, saw councillors from all political groups lining up to oppose the agreement – almost all claiming the barge was the wrong accommodation, in the wrong place.
The approved motion, from Littlemoor and Preston councillor Tony Ferrari, not only condemned the commercial agreement, taken with no local consultation, but asks for the Bibby Stockholm barge to be removed from Portland Harbour as soon as possible.
Councillors were told that the agreement between Portland Port and the Home Office is for 18 months with asylum seekers, all men who have been in the country for some time, being introduced to the barge in batches of 50 at a time.
Each will be free to leave the “floating hotel”, as it has been described, when they like with buses arranged to take them in and out of the port area.
Cllr Ferrari said that although opposing the arrangements which have been made Dorset Council will work with other agencies to mitigate the impact on local people.
He said it was bad enough to impose new arrivals into the country on a small community, even worse to do it in a large group.
“It should be stopped now before it is proven to all of us what a bad idea it is,” he said.
Portland Labour Cllr Paul Kimber succeeded in an addition to the original Conservative motion to recognise the situation the asylum seekers find themselves in and the contribution immigrants make to the country, adding that they should be treated with dignity and respect..
Many spoke about the need to acknowledge that the asylum seekers were in a situation not of their making.
Weymouth Green councillor Brian Heatley said he was appalled at some of the abuse directed at councillors for doing their job and trying to make the best something they did not ask for.
“We mustn’t lose sight of the human situation. These are fellow human beings entitled to help,” he said.
Portland councillor Susan Cocking said that she had been abused over the barge proposal – but said that while she believed the three storey vessel was wrong people ought to think about what they might do in a similar situation: “We should recognise that these people are refugees trying to do the best they can,” she said.
Fellow Portland councillor Rob Hughes said the situation had led to full inboxes over a decision which had been imposed on Portland.
“We did not ask for this…it’s very hard for us all, but we’re trying to deal with it the best we can,” he said.
Protestors against the barge and those more sympathetic greeted councillors arriving for the County Hall debate, although few stayed on for almost three hours before the discussion even started.