The Home Office has terminated its contract with the Bell Hotel in Epping Forest, Essex, where single male asylum seekers have been housed for several years. The arrangement will cease by the end of April, with residents being relocated to other accommodation within the asylum estate.
Dame Eleanor Laing, Conservative MP for Epping Forest, welcomed the decision, stating she is reassured that the welfare needs of those currently at the hotel will be taken care of as they move to a different location. She acknowledged the support provided by local residents and church groups during the hotel's use.
In a letter to Dame Eleanor, Tom Pursglove, Minister for Legal Migration and the Border, explained that using hotels for asylum accommodation is a short-term measure that places pressure on local services and costs taxpayers too much. He claimed the Home Office is now able to exit hotel contracts by utilising more appropriate forms of accommodation, including former military sites and the Bibby Stockholm barge, which are less costly and better managed by communities.
Residents will be notified at least five days in advance of their move, with relocations completed before the final closure date. The Home Office stated that moves will be carried out in line with existing published policies.
Meanwhile, Care4Calais has launched High Court legal action against the Home Office over conditions at the former RAF Wethersfield site, which is also being used for asylum accommodation. The charity claims the site is "prison-like" and fails to meet legally required standards.
