More than 300 asylum seekers could be placed in a hotel in Llanelli. The Home Office has submitted a proposal to consider Stradey Park Hotel for the purpose of providing contingency accommodation.
But Carmarthenshire County Council, along with Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner, Dafydd Llywelyn, and Hywel Dda University Health Board said they were "extremely concerned by the risks" involved with the proposal.
The statement read: "Concerns include the impact it will have on the cohesion of the local community, service delivery – which include the availability of school places and access to local health services and GP services, and the risk and the suitability of the accommodation to the asylum seekers themselves." You can get more Carmarthenshire news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
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The council added that the venue was "wholly unsuited for the purpose proposed" and stated that further planning permission should be required for the proposal to proceed. At present, the hotel is frequently used for tourism, community events and weddings. It is in close proximity to some of the county’s key attractions including Pembrey Country Park, the Millennium Coastal Path and Gower Peninsula.
The statement continued: "Carmarthenshire County Council [has] fully supported and successfully delivered the dispersed model currently used to re-settle Syrian, Afghan, Ukrainian and general asylum seekers in recent years. The dispersed model of accommodation provision is more sustainable in offering a longer-term solution for asylum seekers, especially in a county such as Carmarthenshire.
"The council believe that the model of accommodating large numbers of asylum seekers in one concentrated site has the potential to totally undermine the dispersed scheme and is not the appropriate way to accommodate people who are seeking asylum.
"Whilst the council has not had sight of what it assumes is a detailed proposal, the engagement with the Home Office has to date been inconsistent and has disregarded all of their well-founded concerns. The proposal and engagement by Clearsprings (the Home Office private housing provider) has been disappointing, giving the council no confidence that they understand the local or national context they intend to work within.
"The council and its public sector partners will continue to liaise with the Home Office on this matter with the view to strongly recommend not to proceed with this proposal, however continue with the commitment to deliver the dispersed model."
Dafydd Llywelyn, Dyfed Powys Police and Crime Commissioner said he found "the lack of strategic planning" by the Home Office "extremely concerning", adding: “There has been no local engagement or any form of consultation with local service providers to understand the impact of locating in excess of 300 asylum seekers at one location in Llanelli. This has resulted in unnecessary pressure being put on local resources and service providers once again, who will now be working tirelessly to make the best of this difficult situation.”
Hywel Dda University Health Board chief executive, Steve Moore, said he was concerned about the extra strain the plan could have on the local NHS. He said: "As a Nation of Sanctuary, we must never lose sight of the human tragedy that drives people to risk the dangers of travelling to our shores in order to seek asylum. They will often have faced trauma and deprivation, which has an effect on their physical health and mental wellbeing. It is therefore essential that their healthcare needs, as well of those of the wider local community, are fully considered and resourced before any relocation plans are enacted."
Local MP, Dame Nia Griffith, and MS Lee Waters also expressed their concerns. Ms Griffith said she would raise residents' issues with the Home Office, while Mr Waters said the plan "is not sensible". He said: "We are a welcoming community and want to play our part in providing sanctuary to deeply vulnerable people who have undergone significant trauma. But this model of accommodating large numbers of asylum seekers in one concentrated site is not sensible. We will all do our best to make it work but this is the wrong way to go about it."
A Home Office spokesperson said: “The number of people arriving in the UK who require accommodation has reached record levels and has put our asylum system under incredible strain. We have been clear that the use of hotels to house asylum seekers is unacceptable – there are currently more than 51,000 asylum seekers in hotels costing the UK taxpayer £6 million a day. The Home Office is committed to making every effort to reduce hotel use and limit the burden on the taxpayer.”
We have approached Stradey Park Hotel for comment.
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