Council asks to consider legal bid to end migrant use of hotel

IT COULD FOLLOW IN STEPS OF ESSEX AUTHORITY THAT WENT TO COURT

- By EDDIE BISKNELL

A DERBYSHIRE council has agreed to consider seeking an injunction to end the use of a hotel as asylum seeker accommodation.

At an Erewash Borough Council meeting on Wednesday night a majority of councillors agreed to consider seeking an injunction to cease the use of the Best Western Hotel in Long Eaton as asylum seeker accommodation.

Councillors outlined that the authority's legal and planning officials will assess the property, just like they would any other facility in the borough, to ascertain whether any legislation has been breached - such as a change of use application - or if there is a “community amenity” risk to consider.

According to the most recent Home Office statistics published in August, the Best Western currently accommodates 161 asylum seekers.

All of these are waiting for their applications to be assessed by Government officials.

The Derby Telegraph was told that Wednesday’s meeting was moved from Long Eaton to Ilkeston on the police’s advice.

Ahead of the meeting, a small protest involving 20 people was held outside Ilkeston Town Hall.

Anti-asylum seeker campaigners, equipped with camera equipment and some wearing British and English flags as capes and large bibs, were present.

Security staff had been drafted in by the council, and police monitored the protest outside the town hall.