Children in the Oxfordshire village of Piddington have written heartfelt letters to Prime Minister Andy Burnham, pleading with him to stop plans for a nearby migrant camp that would house 1,250 men. The village, home to around 250 adults and 46 children, faces the prospect of a former Ministry of Defence (MoD) site being converted into accommodation for asylum seekers.
Children's fears for their village and park
Seven-year-old Rex Perkin wrote to the PM, expressing worry that he may no longer be able to visit his sister's grave in the village churchyard. His mother, Gina Perkin, said the letter was "pure and innocent" and focused on what is important to him. Nine-year-old Orla West wrote that she does "not like this idea" because "we love our park." Six-year-old Constance Walker told the PM that Piddington "is the best," while her sister Athena, aged nine, said she wrote the letter "so we can carry on having fun."
Eleven-year-old Tilly West noted she won't be able to use the park anymore, adding, "I will not have as much freedom when I'm older." Her sister Edith, aged seven, wrote that there is "so much love and friendship" in the village.
Community spirit under threat
Gina Perkin, who has lived in the village all her life, said the proposal puts the "tight knit" way of life at risk. She appealed to Burnham as a father, asking, "How would you protect your children if this was happening near you?" Her mother, Mandy Bayliss, 62, said it scares her that her grandchildren may not have the same safe childhood she had.
Matt Walker, a resident of 13 years, said his daughters are at an age where they want to cycle to the park, but that "is going to be robbed from them" if the site goes ahead. He added, "Like any parent, you don't gamble with the safety of your children."
Government response
Number 10 said it would "consider the issues raised" and "investigate" the concerns in the letters. A spokesman said, "The concerns of communities are central to our immigration reforms," noting that asylum seekers in hotels has fallen by 35% in the last year and asylum costs have fallen by nearly £1 billion since the election.
The national asylum backlog stands at 98,000, with more migrants crossing the Channel weekly. Similar proposals exist for MoD sites in Barnham, Suffolk, and Linton-on-Ouse, North Yorkshire, potentially housing 3,750 asylum seekers. The government is also extending use of sites in Crowborough, East Sussex, and Wethersfield, Essex.
