Bell hotel Warning of 'serious impact' if Home Office loses legal appeal

A ban on housing asylum seekers at a protest-hit hotel would have a "serious impact" on the government's ability to house refugees and could spark further demonstrations, the court of appeal has heard.

- Kevin Rawlinson

The Home Office and the owners of the Bell hotel in Essex have launched an appeal against the temporary injunction granted to Epping Forest district council (EFDC) last week.

They are seeking to challenge a high court ruling that will stop 138 asylum seekers from being housed there beyond 12 September.

Three senior judges will make a ruling today.

The Bell hotel has been in the public eye in recent weeks after an asylum seeker housed there was charged with sexually assaulting a teenage girl last month, leading to a string of protests and counter-demonstrations. Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu is on trial this week and denies the offence.

Last week, Mr Justice Eyre granted EFDC the interim injunction after the authority claimed that Somani Hotels had breached planning rules.

But yesterday, the Home Office and Somani Hotels argued the council had "effectively conceded" that the application "was, in truth, only ever about protests".