THE Government appears to have applied the brakes on its proposed development of the former Northeye Prison Centre in Little Common to house asylum seekers.
According to the “fact sheet” published on the gov.uk website, the plan to house asylum seekers at the site from September has now been removed as opposition to the plans continue to grow with many deeming it as completely inappropriate.
In a separate development, Rother District Council has confirmed that it will continue to press for further information from the Home Office as the debate over the suitability of the site rages on.
There have already been several protests held in Bexhill with many against the proposals sporting “No to Northeye” T-Shirts and brandishing banners.
In a statement, Rother District Council leader Doug Oliver said: “ We understand that residents and businesses remain anxious to know more regarding the Home Office’s proposal to accommodate up to 1,200 single male asylum seekers at the Northeye site in Bexhill.
“The Home Office has informed us that they have amended their Bexhill Fact Sheet and taken out the original proposal of opening in September 2023.
“The council continues to press the Home Office for information and on June 7 our legal team formally wrote to the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, seeking further information and assurances about the future use of the Northeye site.
“We will continue to explore all legal options available to us and will continue to stress to the Home Office the importance of keeping residents updated on their asylum centre plans for Northeye.
“In the meantime we are continuing to work with our multi-agency partners to prepare if plans go ahead and we will continue to keep residents updated when we know more.”
No to Northeye co-founder Nigel Jacklin said: “Last Saturday (June 12) about 200 protesters set off from Little Common for a protest march in opposition to the Northeye asylum seeker accommodation centre.
This was the third peaceful event organised by the No to Northeye campaign group and the sixth time residents have gathered in the ten weeks since the Home Office announced plans to use the Northeye site as an asylum seeker accommodation centre.
“With widespread opposition to the camp, residents are still on tenterhooks. The Home Office has not announced a final decision on use of the site with the sale of the land being subject to a toxicology report.
“In response to a series of questions from local MP Huw Merriman, the Home Office has said it will not consult with local residents. In addition no detailed plans have been released.”
Mr Jacklin added after the latest protest: “There is widespread opposition to the camp. This is not a genuine emergency, it is a failure of the Government and the Home Office to do their jobs.
“If they sorted out illegal arrivals and processed claims quickly they would not need large-scale accommodation centres.”
A small number of protesters congregated outside of Mr Merriman’s constituency office wearing masks portraying the Bexhill and Battle MP’s image as they chanted “Merriman go, go, go and Northeye no, no no.
The campaign group now hopes to persuade Rother District Council to follow in the footsteps of Bexhill Town Council and voice their strong opposition to the Northeye proposals.
