The UK Home Office and the owners of a large Welsh hotel have been slammed for their “shocking and shameful” behaviour as they push ahead with a controversial plan to house 207 asylum seekers in Llanelli from next month. It was first reported last week that the Stradey Park Hotel was being considered as a location to accommodate up to 300 asylum seekers, despite opposition from Carmarthenshire Council.
On Friday, it was confirmed that the Home Office has given the proposal the go-ahead, and that a maximum of 207 people will be housed across 77 rooms - the entirety of the hotel. Details of the plan were sent in writing to Carmarthenshire Council, Hywel Dda Health Board, Dyfed-Powys Police and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service on Friday. You can keep up to date with the latest Carmarthenshire news by signing up to the local newsletter here.
There has been strong opposition to the idea of using the hotel - located in the Furnace area of Llanelli - for housing asylum seekers, with the leader of Carmarthenshire Council saying he is “outraged that this proposal by the Home Office to concentrate a large number of asylum seekers is going ahead”. Mr Price added: “Even at this stage I call on the hotel owners to reconsider their position and stop this from progressing.” Dame Nia Griffith, the MP for Llanelli, said on Friday: “This is hugely concerning, and I will continue to oppose any such proposal very vigorously, making clear the very strong opposition from local people.”
