The UK Home Office has reversed its decision to house asylum seekers at a Grade-II listed Georgian mansion after facing massive backlash. The former children's learning centre Marle Hall,
located on the edge of Snowdonia, Wales, was earmarked last week to house asylum seekers as the Home Office struggled to find suitable accommodation. However, ministers have now backtracked on the idea to house migrants in the 15-bedroom mansion that is more than 300 miles away from Dover. This reversal comes just months after Tory MPs expressed outrage at migrants staying in a luxury £300-a-night Hilton hotel, also located in Snowdonia.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman has previously promised to stop migrants from making illegal crossings, but officials have predicted that 80,000 people could still make the journey this year. The decision to earmark Marle Hall for asylum seekers caused a backlash within the community, with Aberconwy Tory MP Robin Millar expressing "strong concerns" about the suitability of the property. He welcomed the U-turn, saying it was "a relief for many in the community".
Aberconwy MS Janet Finch Saunders also raised "serious objections" to the plan to house migrants in Marle Hall, stating her concerns in an urgent letter last week. Police were seen outside the mansion amid concerns over the plans to house asylum seekers there. It was important that the decision to not use Marle Hall had been reached after proper consideration of the wellbeing of those within Home Office facilities, said Millar.
"I'd like to thank [North Wales Police Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman and Rhun ap Gareth, Chief Executive of Conwy Council] for their swift response - clearly our view has prevailed on the Home Office," he said. "It is also important that this decision had been reached after proper consideration of the wellbeing of those within Home Office facilities."
Earlier this month, Braverman told parliament that "for a government not to respond to waves of illegal migrants breaching our border would be to betray the will of the people we were elected to serve." However, the government has faced criticism for the lack of suitable accommodation for asylum seekers. The use of hotels and former army barracks has been criticized by campaigners, who have highlighted concerns over the conditions and lack of privacy for residents.
The decision to reverse the plan to house asylum seekers in Marle Hall is a welcome one for many in the community, who were unsure about the number of people arriving, their identities, and the length of their stay. The decision also highlights the importance of considering the wellbeing of those within Home Office facilities and the burden on stretched local services.
Overall, the Home Office needs to find better solutions to accommodate asylum seekers in a humane and dignified manner while also ensuring that they comply with UK laws. The government needs to listen to concerns raised by local communities and stakeholders to find more suitable and long-term solutions. Photo by Steve Cadman, Wikimedia commons.