Residents of the Welsh coastal village of Gronant, Flintshire, say they were left in shock after asylum-seeking families were quietly moved into a new housing development without prior notice. The village, home to about 1,600 people and known for its sandy beaches and little tern colony, saw 13 of 15 newly built homes on the former village hall site occupied by asylum seekers.
Residents express anger and betrayal
Locals had been told the properties would be rented out or sold, with the possibility of becoming social housing. Instead, families awaiting asylum decisions were moved in by Clearsprings, a Home Office contractor. The development has sparked anger, with residents questioning why they were not informed beforehand.
Kerrie Cox, 39, told The Sun she was washing her car when a blacked-out minibus arrived and seven people got out – five men and two women. She said: “No-one was notified whatsoever.” She added: “We had been told the properties were to be leased out or sold with a promise of them going as social housing. Everyone is in shock. We have had the police here all day and night. We don’t normally have a police presence around here.”
Community demands answers
Julie Tuson, 65, said: “We want to know who is coming and vetted. If we want a better Britain, we all have to be involved. We were not told about it. I feel absolutely betrayed by the Government.” Her partner Robert Bagshaw, 64, said: “They wouldn’t have a consultation beforehand because they would know the outcome. It’s definitely the wrong area.”
Laurie Gilmour, 29, said the mood in the village was one of “anger and uncertainty”. She added: “It’s about not knowing who will be there. Who would want a load of random people moving into a village? It’s the wrong area. There’s nothing here.”
Political and official responses
The controversy comes after the Government pledged earlier this year to stop using newbuild properties to house asylum seekers, following revelations about an entire street being designated as migrant accommodation. Reform Welsh Senedd member Tom Montgomery has claimed as many as 52 asylum seekers could eventually be housed at the Gronant site. He has written to the UK Government demanding details of security checks and calling for the plans to be stopped.
Mr Montgomery said Gronant has only 697 households, limited services and poor public transport links, adding that it should be “apparent to any reasonable person” that the village was the wrong place to house asylum seekers. Councillor Glyn Banks is seeking a meeting involving Labour MP Becky Gittins, police and representatives of concerned residents. He insisted: “It’s just too big for a small village.”
Resident Joanne Gilmore has also launched a petition calling for the council to reconsider the move, highlighting concerns over access to healthcare, education and employment. Flintshire County Council said the newcomers were not illegal immigrants. A spokesman said: “They are individuals exercising their legal right to claim asylum and deserve to be treated with compassion and respect.” A Government spokesman said: “The concerns of communities are central to our immigration reforms.”
