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Battle to stop hotel housing asylum seekers reaches High Court
A High Court judge is to decide if a hotel has breached planning rules by becoming a site for migrant accommodation.
And the case that could have repercussions for councils across the country where asylum seekers are housed in hotels. Epping Forest District Council wants an interim injunction against The Bell Hotel in the town, which is owned by Somani Hotels, to prevent it being used as migrant accommodation, arguing the premises was not operating as intended as a hotel.
Lawyers for the council called it "a very serious problem" and said it was creating "a feeding ground for unrest," stating that there is an "overwhelming case for an injunction". Opening the hearing at the High Court in London on Friday, Philip Coppel KC, for the council, said it was a problem that was "getting out of hand" and "causing great anxiety" to local people.
Protests have taken place outside the hotel after two men staying there were charged with sexual offences in separate incidents, including one involving a 14-year-old girl. Mr Coppel said there was "no agreement between [asylum seekers] and the hotel, they do not choose the duration of their stay...
they do not choose the type of room". The hotel "is no more a hotel [to asylum seekers] than a borstal to a young offender.
Amir Nisi
Creative and experienced content writer with 6+ years of experience lazy to create unique content strategy for News5 to turn website visitors into customers.
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