A local hotel has been allocated by the Government to house Asylum seekers and concerns have been raised about the long-term healthcare, housing and well-being of those being homed locally.
In Wealden District Council’s Full Council meeting this morning (Wednesday), Hellingly Councillor, David White told members he was notified only last night via email that the Boship Lions Hotel at Lower Dicker has been allocated to asylum seekers and was concerned about their access to doctors and local services, as the system is already under massive pressure.
He said: “I am concerned to know the type of asylum seeker that is going to be housed in the Boship Hotel, those of you who know the hotel will know it’s a fairly remote location free is far from accessible to services or public transport. I think there are implications as far as the district and possibly my parish are concerned.
“For example, are we responsible for the healthcare facilities for the asylum seekers who are going to be there? Are we responsible for education? These are all matters that will impact on my parish, where the schools are already oversubscribed and the doctor’s surgery lists are full. So, I’m not quite sure about the sense or sensibility of putting asylum seekers in a remote, rural location, when I would have thought there was better accommodation in towns like Eastbourne, Hastings or any of the large urban centres where there must be hotels with empty rooms.”
He added: “I appreciate the scheme the government has drawn up requires an even distribution of asylum seekers across the whole of the country, but I’m appalled at the prospect of Wealden having to take up to 800. When these people are given asylum status, they then are entitled to claim things like housing and accommodation. How does that affect our housing lists? Because we already have oversubscribed people on our own housing lists waiting for accommodation.”
Over the last three weeks, thousands of Asylum seekers have been relocated to hotels across the country following serious overcrowding and the spreading of diseases at the Migrant Processing Centre in Manston. Things have changed dramatically over the past few weeks – in a report to WDC’s Cabinet Committee in October, a report suggested only ten families were being housed in Wealden as part of the South East Regional Asylum Dispersal Plan.
Councillor Ray Cade from Wealden’s Housing and Waste Committee replied to Councillor White’s concerns: “I am aware of the situation at the Boship Hotel – it has happened very suddenly with very little notice. There have been discussions with the Home Office which is handling the situation as a result of the closing down of the Manston centre in Kent. But, it’s too early for me to say really until I know fully what the implications are and what the arrangements are.
A spokesperson for Wealden District Council told Hailsham News: “Wealden District Council was made aware by the Home Office on Monday 21st November, of their intention to use the Boship Lions Farm Hotel to assist their efforts with accommodating unprecedented numbers of asylum seekers entering the UK. Wealden District Council was not consulted on this decision, but we are working closely with the Home Office and their contracted provider, Clearsprings, to ensure they have the appropriate management and support for those accommodated there.”
