Migrant hotels ‘only temporary’

AHOTEL in Cornwall which is currently housing asylum seekers is only doing so temporarily, a local MP has said.

Steve Double, the Conservative MP for St Austell and Newquay, who previously said that Cornwall must do its bit to help when it comes to housing refugees, has issued an update about a Newquay hotel which is housing asylum seekers.

Mr Double said the asylum seekers have already been through the initial stage of the application process to establish their right to claim asylum and ‘security screenings’. They could be offered alternative accommodation within weeks.

He said: “I have spent the week meeting with Home Office officials and the Home Office ministerial team to provide local feedback and better understand the situation. The Home Office have stated that the accommodation in Newquay is intended to be a short-term transition while longer-term accommodation is secured.

“Once the Home Office have secured alternative accommodation, those accommodated in Newquay will be moved. The intention is that this will be in a matter of weeks, however clearly there are a number of factors that will determine if this is achievable.”

Mr Double, Cornwall Council and Newquay Town Council visited the hotel last week. He added: “During my visit I saw and spoke with both asylum seekers and staff on site and was reassured that appropriate measures are in place to care for and supervise them while they are staying there while also recognising the status of the people in the hotel.

“I will continue to work with all agencies and provide updates as and when they become available and have booked regular meetings with Home Office management for this purpose.”

Louis Gardner, Conservative Cornwall councillor for Newquay Central and Pentire, previously said that Cornwall had always been a welcoming place and he was sure that local people would want to ensure that any refugees coming to Cornwall were being looked after.

Seafront hotels in Torquay, Paignton, Ilfracombe and Newquay are being used as short-term accommodation for people who have arrived in the UK. Torbay Council said last week that it was not notified in advance about a Torquay hotel being used and was ready to seek injunctions to stop it happening again. It said the situation was putting local services – including children’s services – under “severe” pressure.