A Holiday Inn near Bristol is set to be used to temporarily house up to 168 refugees as part of a government scheme.
The hotel in the Redhill area of North Somerset is being used as part of the government's Asylum Dispersal Programme, which began in 2001. It provides temporary accommodation to people seeking asylum in the UK while their applications are being processed.
The refugees will be provided three meals a day and access to shared dining areas, as well as indoor and outdoor recreation space and private meeting rooms. Councillor Patrick Keating, who represents Blagdon and Churchill ward for North Somerset Council, told Bristol Live that refugees began being placed there about a week ago.
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He said himself and Cllr Steve Hogg would be visiting the hotel on May 2 and said: "We just want to understand the situation to know how things are progressing at the hotel, what needs people there may have, how we can act as a local community to support them. So in terms of education, donations of clothing, access to activities, that sort of thing."
He said that the use of the hotel was a temporary arrangement, and added that the amount of time that the individual refugees spend there will depend on how long it takes to process their asylum claims. In a joint statement, the councillors said: "North Somerset Council is assisting the Government’s Asylum Dispersal Programme, which provides temporary accommodation to people seeking asylum in the UK.
"As ward councillors, we welcome the opportunity to provide support for vulnerable people fleeing the most desperate situations. We want to work with our communities to demonstrate that North Somerset is a place ready to welcome refugees and people seeking asylum - offering safety, shelter and an opportunity to rebuild lives.
"As part of the scheme, the Home Office have block booked a hotel in the Redhill area, providing capacity for a maximum of 168 people, including rooms suitable for people with disabilities and care and support needs. This accommodation includes three meals a day and access to shared dining areas, as well as indoor and outdoor recreation space and private meeting rooms.
"Residents can also access services providing health and legal support, along with translation services and mobile phones that can be used for individual calls. We will be working with the local Parish Councils to identify how our communities can best support hotel residents with cultural and educational activities, recreation and clothing donations."
