Scampton residents’ concern for safety of school children

PROPOSED MIGRANT CAMP IS JUST A FEW HUNDRED YARDS FROM WHERE YOUNGSTERS STUDY AND PLAY

RESIDENTS of RAF Scampton have expressed deep concerns for the safety of school children in light of the Home Office’s asylum centre plans at the former base.

The proposal involves housing up to 2,000 male asylum seekers, primarily from Afghanistan, Iraq, and Iran, at the historic site of the Dambusters. However, local residents have raised issues about the lack of adequate provisions for the primary school situated next door to the base.

In recent weeks, a petition calling for a law that prohibits the placement of migrants within three miles of a school has gained significant attention, amassing over 720 signatures and continuing to grow.

Spearheading the petition are Scampton residents Rachael Green and Rebecca, who describe the situation as “the biggest scandal in Scampton right now.”

According to Mrs Green, the Home Office had assured parents in a previous engagement meeting that it would install an 8-foot security fence topped with razor wire between the base and the school. However, contrary to this promise, a fence covered with a green tarp has been erected instead.

“It offers no privacy whatsoever,” stated Rachael. She later criticised the number of CCTV cameras installed around the school.

“There is CCTV and flood lights all around the school, so it looks like a prison camp. It’s not appropriate,” she continued.

As contractors reportedly press on with renovations of the proposed migrant accommodations in the H block, Rachael’s worries about shielding the children from the migrants are mounting.

“There is no way you can screen them from the children,” she said. “Nobody seems to be addressing the safety of the children.”

Rebecca also voiced her concerns about the risks associated with situating an asylum centre so close to a school. “They [the asylum seekers] could practically just walk into the school and do whatever they like,” she added.

“This shouldn’t be happening within such close proximity to children, it’s an absolute disgrace.”

She later urged locals and others who share these concerns to support her petition. “Signing this is a practical step you can take to help protect the vulnerable children in our community,” she appealed.

Sarah Carter, the leader of the Save Our Scampton campaign group, disclosed that during an engagement meeting with the local community, Serco, the organisation managing the camp, admitted their lack of awareness about the school’s proximity to the site.

“It just proves that proper assessments weren’t done on the area from the beginning,” she said.

In the meantime, the community remains in anticipation of a decision from Mrs Justice Thornton regarding West Lindsey District Council’s Judicial Review of the Home Office’s plans for the former airbase.

Mrs Carter described this period as “an anxious time.” She added: “I’ve been losing sleep.”

The Home Office has been contacted for a comment. However, a previous statement from the government agency stated: “Delivering accommodation on surplus military sites provides cheaper and more orderly, suitable accommodation for those arriving in small boats whilst helping to reduce the use of hotels.

“We are confident our project, which will house asylum seekers in basic, safe and secure accommodation, meets the planning requirements.”