Asylum seekers to be housed in former Palms Hotel
It has emerged within the last couple of days that the Home Office has decided to house up to 200 asylum seekers in the former Palms Hotel. The hotel, which has been closed for several years, is situated next to the A127 near to the top of Wingletye Lane, in Emerson Park Ward.
While details are scarce at the moment, it appears that the first people are expected to move in this week.
Apparently there was no prior notification of this decision to either Havering Council or the local MP. Both have written to the Home Secretary, Priti Patel, to ask her to reconsider the decision.
Although the Upminster and Cranham Residents’ Association understand the need to provide temporary accommodation for people seeking asylum, we are extremely concerned that the location is far from perfect for such use and it is apparently expected that local GP services, other health services and schools etc. will be required to take on all of those requiring their services, without any extra resources being provided by the Government.
Havering is already one of the top five London boroughs in terms of accommodating asylum seekers placed in dispersed accommodation.
We will keep you up to date with further information when we have it.
Shouldn’t be allowed without additional facilities specifically allocated and paid by Central Government – also these are Asylum SEEKERS – so asylum has not yet been granted – so until such asylum is actually GRANTED they should remain in secure and supervised locations pending outcome of their applications
This is wrong on so many levels. I am in utter disbelief at this huge error of judgement… This will be disastrous to all surrounding residents, schools, health care facilities and safety of local families.
who is to check on whereabouts of these people during their stay at palms hotel and will the local residents be able to call on local councillors and police if needed to keep their stay at the premises without any disruption to local amenities and property around the area. Will any checks be made on the asylum seekers and and whether their is any concern for locals to be wary.
Are Havering residents paying for their stay or is the government footing the bill including extra costs to nearby schools,hospitals,doctors etc.
thanks from concern resident of havering
Maybe a lesson to be learned NOT to let buildings stand empty for years on end without any plan for its use. So if you are objecting to this maybe in future the council will think twice about the facilities available within the borough.
These are asylum seekers, they may have been through terrible experiences and fled life threatening situations. It makes me really sad to live somewhere where this is the attitude, essentially “we understand the need to provide temporary accommodation for people seeking asylum – we just don’t want them here”.
Wouldn’t it be nice, if just for once, for Upminster to be an inclusive area where we welcome people less fortunate than ourselves with open arms?
Will be writing to our M.P and Council on Gillian Ford, protesting about 200 asylum seekers moving into tge Palms Hotel
Can I just enquire, you stipulate 200 hundred asylum seekers. What are the breakdowns of these people eg males, females, children?
We have not been given any breakdown of the people likely to be accommodated.
Cllr John Tyler
Upminster and Cranham Residents’ Association – Cranham Ward
Cant believe this, Will effect our community excessively. I know they need housing until it gets sorted but effecting our schools ect will not be good
Want to stop them moving in. Have they been tested for the virus?
Please do not use this hotel for the asylum seekers as we are overcrowd with it in this country and one of them seekers could be a terrorists! It’s not safe for us as especially it near the schools.
This was carried out by the back door. No consolation at all. Which is disgusting.
How will these people be able to access transport links? No access to shops, schools, amenities, buses etc etc….
You say temporarily this should be expanded?? I feel that they are here to stay. This will impact on local jobs and amenities. We have already had serious consequences because of covid. Also mentioned in previous comment, Have they been tested for virus??
Thanks again for the prompt response by our local Residents Councillors .
Much appreciated