Councillor is criticised over rumours about former pub

CONCERNS IT WAS BEING EYED UP FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS 'AIMED TO DIVIDE AND SPREAD HATRED'

- By DYLAN HAYWARD

FALSE rumours about a former pub are damaging the community and spreading hate, an MP and campaign group have warned.

A Reform UK county councillor suggested the old Three Crowns pub in Silver Street, Whitwick, was being lined up to house asylum seekers.

Councillor Joseph Boam, right, who represents Whitwick, posted a statement on Friday saying he was “deeply concerned” about the rumours.

The post said the property was across the road from a day nursery and between two primary schools.

The Mercury understands the Home Office has no plans to use the property for asylum accommodation.

North West Leicestershire District Council said in a statement it was “not aware of any plans” for the former pub to be used for this purpose.

Amanda Hack, MP for North West Leicestershire, said the statement about the pub is “simply not true” and that spreading misinformation is “damaging to our community”.

She said no such plans exist and described the claims as being “clearly aimed to divide and spread hatred”.

“This rhetoric is completely unacceptable,” she said. “Our community deserves better.