Councils consider legal bids after hotel ruling

COUNCILS across England are considering legal challenges as the UK Government scrambles to draw up contingency plan for housing asylum seekers set to be removed from a hotel in Epping, Essex.

- PRESS ASSOCIATION REPORTERS

Ministers are now bracing for further legal challenges from councils after Epping Forest District Council was granted a temporary injunction by the High Court on Tuesday.

‘The ruling blocks asylum seekers from being housed at the Bell Hotel in the Essex town, and current residents must be removed by September 12.

Yesterday, some Conservative and Reform UK-led authorities said they were looking at their options to take similar action.

Conservative-run Broxbourne Council in Hertfordshire has said it was taking legal advice “as a matter of urgency’ while Tory-run East Lindsey District Council in Lincolnshire said officers are investigating and “will take appropriate action”.

Reform UK-led councils, West Northamptonshire Council and Staffordshire County Council, also said the authorities would look at the options available after the High Court ruling.