Historic Blackpool site among 13 asylum hotels to close amid ‘immigration overhaul’

Historic Blackpool site among 13 asylum hotels to close amid ‘immigration overhaul’ Another 13 hotels housing asylum seekers have been closed down - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments A further 13 hotels housing asylum seekers have shut as Andy Burnham’s Government continues relocating individuals to alternative accommodation. Ministers are increasing their reliance on more "basic" sites, such as former military barracks, aiming to end asylum hotel use completely before the next election. The Home Office expects these 13 closures to save taxpayers £51 million, reducing the overall total figure below 160—down from a peak of nearly 400 under the Conservatives. The list features Stratford-upon-Avon’s grade II-listed Grosvenor Hotel and the Grand Metropole Hotel on Blackpool Promenade, one of the town's two oldest hotels. Immigration minister Anna Turley said: "For too long, communities have watched hotels at the centre of their towns and cities become symbols of a broken asylum system. "We are turning that around by ending the use of asylum hotels for good and moving people into larger, basic accommodation like former military sites. "This Government’s reforms are overhauling the immigration system to restore control at the border, and fairness to our immigration system." Labour has already shut several high-profile sites, including the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, which saw protests after a resident sexually assaulted a teenage girl. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood remained in post when Mr Burnham replaced Sir Keir Starmer, signalling no change in strategy regarding asylum accommodation. Under consideration is housing around 3,750 asylum seekers across former military bases at Barnham in Suffolk, Bicester in Oxfordshire, and Linton-on-Ouse in North Yorkshire. The Government also seeks to prolong site usage at Crowborough in East Sussex until 2030 and Wethersfield in Essex beyond 2027, despite local opposition. The Refugee Council’s Imran Hussain said: "Hotels often are isolating for refugees, making it harder to access health and advice services. They are also costly and have become magnets for abuse and the far right. "But an approach that is focused on moving people from hotels to military sites will only go so far, especially when poor quality decision making by the Home Office is keeping a large number of people reliant on asylum support and accommodation for far longer than is necessary." The practice of housing asylum seekers in hotels sparked widespread protests outside various locations last year. At the Bell Hotel, demonstrations broke out after resident Hadush Kebatu sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl. Convicted of five charges including sexual assault, he was jailed, mistakenly released from HMP Chelmsford last October, re-apprehended, and deported to Ethiopia. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments