MP expresses concern to home secretary over use of Bar Hill hotel to house asylum seekers
An MP has written to the home secretary about his concerns that the Bar Hill Best Western Hotel is to be used to house asylum seekers.
Anthony Browne, the Tory MP for South Cambridgeshire, questioned the value for money in the utilising of a four-star site and pressed Suella Braverman for more information on her decision.
The letter also noted the stress on local amenities such as the GP surgery, which has recently undergone an emergency takeover, and on the limited number of school places available.
Mr Browne also tabled a series of public questions about the overall scheme, asking if additional funding will be offered to local support services and healthcare providers as well as for an update on plans to decommission hotel accommodation nationwide.
Mr Browne said: “South Cambridgeshire is a welcoming community, and I am proud to have supported those fleeing persecution from as far afield as Afghanistan, Hong Kong, and Ukraine, aiding them as they find homes and make lives in our area.
“But, as a Conservative and a champion for our local public services, I passionately believe that taxpayers have a right to demand that government spending represents fair value for money and does not unduly impact on our services.
“It is far from ideal for anyone to live in a hotel, particularly after facing trauma and conflict.
“But we need to ensure that any accommodation is best placed for their needs, best suited for the needs of our community, and the best value for the public purse.”
The decision is part of a national programme to help cope with an increase in the number of people arriving in the UK.
The 136-room hotel will house up to 272 people who have arrived in England after crossing the Channel by boat. The Home Office will decide who gets to stay there and will determine this by need, but says the new arrivals will be families and single females.
District councillor Bunty Waters (Con, Bar Hill) said: “The local community understandably has questions about this arrangement, and we will be keen to work closely with the parish council to keep everybody informed. I have stressed to the government that using the Cambridge Bar Hill Hotel for this type of accommodation is far from ideal and they have acknowledged this and are working on other solutions. In the meantime, we all need to show patience and understanding.
“In early 2021, the Bar Hill community came together to support lorry drivers who stayed at this hotel whilst they were isolating with Covid-19. I’m sure they will extend their best wishes to those arriving here.”
If the hotel is used for mainly families, the number of people will be below capacity. The hotel will not be open to other guests for overnight accommodation.
South Cambridgeshire District Council, Cambridgeshire County Council and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care System are providing support.
Those staying at the hotel will remain there as asylum claims are assessed. During that time, the Home Office will provide them with three meals a day, toiletries, a laundry service and £9.10 per week.
The day-to-day arrangements at the hotel in Bar Hill will be overseen by Serco and there will be security provided at the hotel for 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Children who arrive at the hotel in Bar Hill will be given access to education, which could be through attendance at local schools and colleges. Asylum seekers will apply for school places for their children in the same way as all other residents.
Asylum seekers will also be able to access local health services in the same way that any person visiting South Cambridgeshire on a temporary basis would. Health partners are working on how to accommodate this locally, while considering existing demand for services.
The asylum seekers, who will stay while their applications are assessed, will then move to other temporary dispersal accommodation provided by the Home Office, which could be anywhere in the country and will not be provided by councils.
Cllr Bill Handley (Lib Dem, Over and Willingham), the district council’s lead cabinet member for communities, said: “This is a Home Office scheme over which we, as a local authority, have no control. We must appreciate that many asylum seekers have had a very difficult and often traumatic time before arriving in South Cambridgeshire and they are likely to be both worried and confused. The council will do what it can to make their stay as comfortable as possible and we’ll be working with partners.”
