Simon Fell MP expresses concerns as Barrow hotel to host asylum seekers

Simon Fell MP said he had lodged his objections to the Home Office after finding out Hotel Majestic in Duke Street was to be used as a base.

And leader of Cumbria County Council, Stewart Young, and leader of Barrow Borough Council, Ann Thomson, expressed their disappointment that there had been no consultation with either the county or borough council about the move.

“I have lodged my objections with the Home Office about this going ahead,” said Mr Fell.

“I am very concerned about community tensions, especially given the recent far-right activity we’ve had in Barrow, and of the impact it will have on Cumbria Police, the council, and demand on local NHS services that are already stretched due to the pandemic.

“Any asylum seekers will have no recourse to public funds and would be looked after by the Home Office or one of their contractors at the Majestic, but frankly I think this is the wrong location for them for the reasons I’ve already given.

“Barrow is a fantastically warm-hearted community and I’m sure that community groups will be keen to support these people who have been through hellish conditions to reach our shores, but we have to be careful to make sure that this doesn’t become a political football, and that maintaining community safety remains paramount.”

Cllr Young said he would be seeking assurances from the government that it will make all resources available to ensure people arriving receive all the support they need.

“We have to be clear that the decision to house people in hotel accommodation in Barrow was made by the Home Office,” he said.

“There was no consultation with either the county or borough council and the decision was shared with us at short notice.

“This is deeply disappointing.

“We don’t believe this hotel, which has been closed for a long time, can provide appropriate accommodation, and far more work would have been needed to prepare for something on this scale.

“We will be asking Simon Fell MP to make our views clear to the Home Secretary, as well as seeking assurances that the government and their contractors SERCO will make resources available to ensure the people arriving in Barrow receive the help and support they need.”

Cllr Thomson echoed Cllr Young’s disappointment and hoped that residents will welcome those arriving.

"The council has been informed at short notice by the UK Home Office that a hotel in Barrow is to be used to provide temporary accommodation for people seeking asylum,” she said.

"There had been no consultation with the council prior to this decision being taken - something we believe other areas across the UK have been afforded and which is extremely disappointing to us.

"However, Cumbria has a proud history linked to the support it has provided to both asylum seekers and refugees in the past. I hope people in Barrow will welcome those arriving here.

“I know the wonderful third sector organisations we have across the area will want to come forward to offer their support."

Meanwhile Lord Walney said the use of hotels should only be a short-term measure and raised concerns about whether the government had made longer term plans for asylum seekers.

“I think a lot of people will look at a measure like this and wonder how long these procedures will be in place,” he said.

“Many people might applaud the local area and particular hotels for stepping in at a moment of real pressure with people fleeing terrible persecution.

“But equally for everyone involved, from the refugee families who might have small kids to the wider community issues, hotels should only be a temporary measure.

“There are concerns that the government and others have been so focused on the immediate picture.

“The important thing is to see a long-term plan to help new arrivals integrate and ensure that hotels and services remain on a sustainable footing.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “Due to the unprecedented number of small boats arrivals, facilitated by callous criminals, and the pressure from covid-19 on the broken asylum system, it has been necessary to use hotels to accommodate some asylum seekers.

“This is only ever a short term solution and we are working with our accommodation providers to find appropriate dispersed accommodation across the United Kingdom – but can only do this where Local Authorities agree to support us in procuring accommodation.

“We would encourage all Local Authorities to play their part.

“Our New Plan for Immigration will fix the broken system and aims to reform the asylum system to make it fair but firm, enabling us to offer support to those most in need while returning those without a genuine right to remain in the UK.”

Hotel Majestic was contacted for comment but did not reply by the time The Mail went to press.