Tensions flare at asylum seekers and HMO meeting

EXTRAORDINARY COUNCIL GATHERING CALLED

- By CLAIRE HARRISON News Reporter

TENSIONS flared during a marathon extraordinary Nuneaton and Bedworth council meeting to discuss the biggest issue in the borough right now.

It was called by the Conservatives to discuss 'Nuneaton residents' concerns' as a result of the investigation into the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in the town.

Unconfirmed reports that the two men charged in connection with the incident were asylum seekers who were living in local Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO) have attracted comments from politicians.

The Tories said that, while not prejudicing the ongoing legal case, they wanted to debate the wider situation, which has led to 'tensions' across the borough as well as several protests, including one which attracted hundreds of people.

It was accepted by political parties across the chamber in the Town Hall on Tuesday night that concerns around the use of HMOs in the town to house asylum seekers and the wider issues around the wider national immigration system were on many locals’ lips.

But how these issues were dealt with proved to be a bone of contention and led to the stormy meeting taking three hours.

There were several breaks and it was even halted at one point. The Coventry Telegraph was at the meeting and has compiled the five key moments below.

As a result of the protests that have been staged outside the Town Hall over the past month, the council employed outside security for the extraordinary meeting. There were a total six security officers on site.

The police were also put on standby. There were several times when the Mayor, Cllr Bhim Saru, had to warn people sat in the public gallery to stop shouting and, on one occasion, he said that they would be 'kindly asked to leave' if it continued.