Hotel being used to home Afghans who helped UK

A council has spoken out to dispel rumours about the residents of a hotel near Cardiff Airport. The Vale of Glamorgan Council said there has been “misinformation and speculation” about residents staying temporarily at the Holiday Inn Express in Rhoose.

- ROBERT DALLING

The hotel has been selected by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for use as temporary accommodation for entitled persons (EPs) from Afghanistan on a short-term basis, the Vale of Glamorgan Council has said in a statement. It said that it is a UK Government scheme, led by the MoD.

The hotel has already been used previously to home families in desperate situations.

Conservative regional Senedd Member for South Wales Central, Andrew RT Davies, has questioned the appropriateness of a site with limited access to facilities and services.

A statement from the council read: “The MoD is the most appropriate organisation to provide details about the arrangement.

“However, as there has been speculation and misinformation about the project on social media and within the local community, the council feels it is important that residents are given the facts.

“As EPs, this group have the right to live in the UK following their efforts supporting the British military in Afghanistan.

“These households are not illegal immigrants, asylum-seekers or refugees.

“The UK Government has granted them indefinite leave to remain in this country, which is now regarded as their home.