High court rules that Stradey Park Hotel cannot be blocked by protesters.

Gryphon Leisure Limited who own the Stradey Park Hotel in Llanelli claimed that protests by locals meant access to the site was blocked.

Locals have protested for months, both supporting and apposing the placement of over 200 asylum seekers at the Stradey Park Hotel
Author: Claire BoadPublished 28th Jul 2023

A high court judge has ruled that protests outside of the Stradey Park Hotel in Llanelli can continue, so long as the entrance to the site is not blocked.

Locals have been protesting both for and against the placement of over 200 asylum seekers in the four-star hotel.

Gryphon Leisure Limited, who owns the hotel, put in a bid for an injunction to stop trespassing or obstructing the entrance to the site.

Judge Roger ter Haar delayed his judgement earlier this week, as he wanted to hear the concerns of local people.

Tensions around the hotels use rose even further last month when over 90 hotel staff members lost their jobs in preparation for the placement of the asylum seekers.

There have been concerns that locals concerns had been shadowed by far-right groups shadowing the protests.

A statement from anti-racism group Hope not Hate, said:

'We have been concerned by the meddling of dangerous and extreme far-right figures, and hope that the community can distance itself from these interlopers and construct a more tolerant and peaceful debate'.

Locals who had given evidence to the judge before the ruling have said they are disappointed with this ruling.

Rob Lloyd is from the local group Furnace Action Committee, who opposes this placement.

He told us after yesterdays ruling 'This is a disappointment to lose this particular legal battle.

'This changes what was basically a civil matter into a criminal one'.

Rob did explain that this ruling will not stop the locals efforts to prevent the plans for the hotel'.

'People will be allowed the right to protest, but access will have to be opened up to the hotel'.

He says that locals are now looking at different ways to get their views across.

'The first thing that is going to happen is, our team who have been in the high court will be having a full discussion with the rest of the committee to work out a new plan going forward'.