'I am extremely concerned' - Cannock Chase MP on hotel reopening to accommodate asylum seekers

The MP said: “I am extremely concerned at the Home Office’s decision to re-open the Roman Way Hotel for asylum seeker accommodation. There were multiple issues and risks raised previously until it was closed earlier this year.”

“Anyone who lives locally knows that this hotel is inappropriate for this use from the point of view of nearby residents and the asylum seekers.”

“It is clear that people in Cannock, particularly the Longford area, will be most affected by this decision. Alongside the police, I will be monitoring the situation closely to ensure the security of all residents - permanent and temporary.”

“When the hotel was previously used to house asylum seekers, it was exploited by outside groups seeking to stir up community tension. It was also reported that the hotel itself was substandard, and it lies on a 50 mph stretch of a busy A road. I hope that these points have been taken into account by the Home Office.”

He added: “What is clear is that this Government inherited an asylum system in chaos from the Conservatives, it had ground to a complete halt, whilst they wasted £700 million on a gimmick like Rwanda - where they sent just four volunteers. Asylum seekers have been waiting years in some cases for their applications to be considered, being housed in ‘temporary’ accommodation at taxpayers’ expense during that time.”

“The Conservatives’ short-sighted political choice to slash budgets for the Border Force and Home Office staff processing asylum claims has led to the need to use hotels for emergency accommodation. I am glad to see this Government is making progress on reversing the damage of these disastrous policies. For my constituents in Cannock, the day the Roman Way is once again stood down cannot come too soon.” 

“I will continue to work with the Home Office, the police and local councils on this going forward”.