Brightlingsea Town Council (BTC) says it has been unable to find “any substantive information” about the possibility of illegal immigrants being housed in the town.
Rumours that the former Oaklands care home on Church Road could be used to house asylum seekers have been circulating over the last few weeks, generating much heated comment on social media.
However, BTC says that it has undertaken “extensive research” and adds: “At this stage, the matter appears to be based solely on rumours circulating within the community.”
In a statement, the council says that responsibility for decision making regarding housing asylum seekers and those without legal right to remain in the UK lies with the Home Office. Local authorities – such as Tendring District Council (TDC) – take part on a voluntary basis, and they can decline new placements or withdraw consent if there are concerns such as a lack of local services.
BTC says that should such a proposal arise, it would object on the grounds of “inadequate local infrastructure”, including medical and dental services, policing and transport connections. It adds that allowing unused care homes to change use risks them being lost permanently – something it would object to as the town has shortage of housing for the elederly and infirm.
A Tendring District Council spokesperson told Brightlingsea Info: “Tendring District Council has not been made aware of any plans for this site to be used to house asylum seekers; and initial assessments indicate any such future use would require a change of use planning application to be made and considered.”
BTC added: “We will of course continue to monitor the situation as best we can going forward. However without further confirmed and verified information we will not be able to comment anything further.”
• Updated October 4 to include the statement from TDC.
