Council leader: 'No such thing as short term with the Government'

FEARS THAT PUTTING ASYLUM SEEKERS IN BARRACKS WILL DRAG ON FOR YEARS AND WRECK HOUSING PLANS

- By OLIVER PRIDMORE

A COUNCIL leader says he will do everything he can to resist asylum seekers being sent to an Army barracks in his area earmarked for new housing.

The Government has confirmed it is assessing all Ministry of Defence (MoD) sites to see if they could temporarily house asylum seekers as it tries to end the use of hotels.

No MoD sites have been ruled out at this stage, including Chetwynd Barracks in Chilwell.

A huge development is planned on the currently operational Chetwynd Barracks and a neighbouring Toton site.

The barracks were originally set to close last year, but the MoD then pushed this back to 2026. It was then announced that the MoD had partnered with government agency Homes England to partially release land around the barracks for 1,300 homes.

But the announcement on all MoD sites being considered for asylum accommodation has caused concern, with Broxtowe Borough Council's leader saying it could jeopardise the development plans.

Councillor Milan Radulovic said: "I'd be very disappointed if they were to use it for something else in the meantime and we'd do everything we could to resist it.